Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho refused to comment on John Terry's dismissal after his side's 3-2 win over West Brom at the Hawthorns, but filed a barbed apology to his critics for the victory.
Chelsea took advantage of James Morrison's penalty miss to take a 2-0 lead thanks to a debut goal from the impressive Pedro, and a tap in from Diego Costa, before Morrison cut the deficit.
Cesar restored the two-goal lead before the break, but the game's talking point occurred just after the interval, with Terry given a straight red card for fouling West Brom record signing Salomon Rondon.
Morrison brought the Baggies back in the contest with a glancing header, but the Blues hung on for their first win of the season, and Mourinho remained tight-lipped about whether he thought Terry's dismissal was warranted, and left his critics a prickly message.
"I have to say sorry to many people that we won the match, because it is a huge disappointment for many," Mourinho told Sky Sports.
"I don't think [about the red card]. I prefer not to think. I prefer to do what I have been trying to do since the beginning of the championship, which is to focus on the game and on the result.
"It was a fantastic performance. When we had the ball we were always dangerous, and the three goals is short for the chances that we created and for the football we played.
"After that incident, with 10 men, the spirit and the organisation and fight in defensive areas was excellent, but also the intelligence to keep the ball away from dangerous areas I think was a great effort by the players. I am more than happy.
"I am not happy with four points from three matches but I am happy with the team."
Pedro earned a Man of the Match award for his stunning debut showing, and Mourinho admitted his surprise that the former Barcelona forward has settled into the team so quickly.
"There is always a question mark about new players, how they will adapt," Mourinho added. "Many top players come to the Premier League and struggle to adapt, and after that they lose bits of confidence.
"For him to come and play the way he did, I think is very nice."