Jose Mourinho has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association following his half-time dismissal in Chelsea’s loss at West Ham.

Mourinho, who is appealing against a £50,000 fine and suspended one-match stadium ban for comments made about officials following the October 3 loss to Southampton, faces further charges after being sent to the stands by referee Jonathan Moss during the ill-tempered derby at Upton Park.

A statement from the FA read: “Jose Mourinho has been charged with misconduct in relation to his language and/or behaviour towards the match officials in or around the dressing room area at half-time.”

A crucial five days awaits Mourinho as Chelsea continue the defence of the Capital One Cup with their manager’s position under intense scrutiny.

Chelsea are looking to respond from a fifth Barclays Premier League loss from 10 games this season when they play at Stoke in the fourth round of the League Cup on Tuesday night.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool then visit Stamford Bridge in a match which could be decisive in determining the future of Mourinho, whose side won the League Cup on March 1 and Premier League title on May 3.

Two matches would remain before November’s international break – at home to Dynamo Kiev in a clash key to Chelsea’s hopes of Champions League progression and, again, at Stoke, this time in the Premier League – but the Blues may not wait after a tumultuous start to the season which shows little sign of abating.

Mourinho signed a new four-year contract on the eve of the season-opener with Swansea but 59 days later, after a 3-1 loss at home to Southampton, he was the subject of the first vote of confidence in a manager in Roman Abramovich’s 12-year ownership.

The club’s October 5 statement expressed support of the Portuguese but stressed results had to improve and he had the squad to do it.

Since then Chelsea have won one of their three games, against a free-falling Aston Villa, with a top-four place in the Premier League in jeopardy and even progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League by no means a formality.

Tim Sherwood, meanwhile, has expressed his disappointment after being sacked by Aston Villa.

The former Villa manager was dismissed on Sunday after their sixth straight defeat left them rooted in the Barclays Premier League relegation zone and without a win since the opening day.

He was axed just eight months after replacing Paul Lambert in February. Sherwood had kept Villa up last season as well as leading them to the FA Cup final in May, where they lost 4-0 to Arsenal.

Ex-Lyon boss Remi Garde is the favourite to replace him and Sherwood released a statement via the League Managers’ Association following his departure from Villa Park.

He said: “I am very disappointed that I will not be able to carry on in my role as manager of Aston Villa. I knew when I took on the role that it would be a big challenge, but it proved to be one I greatly enjoyed and I know I have learned a lot from this experience.

“Obviously, the initial priority was to stay in the Premier League, but beating Liverpool in the FA Cup semi at Wembley and then leading the team out for the final was an achievement and experience that I will treasure for the rest of my career.

“I’d like to thank my coaching staff and the staff throughout the club for their dedication, the Villa fans for their passionate support and the players, who gave everything during my time at the club. I wish the club all the best for the rest of the season and indeed for the future.”