His behaviour, after Michael Essien's goal had secured a 1-0 win which put his side two points behind leaders Manchester United, was confusing and left the assembled media shocked.

And it will only give further ammunition for the critics who have been hounding over his management record at Stamford Bridge.

The press conference lasted just five minutes but Grant was reluctant to give anything in the way of fulsome answers.

His reponse to being asked whether the victory put Chelsea back in the hunt for the Barclays Premier League title was: "Maybe not."

When questioned as to whether it was a deserved win he said "Yes" but on what pleased him most Grant said: "I don't know."

The Chelsea boss was asked whether he had any problems of issues which had put him in this reluctant mood but he replied: "No, I'm okay. Sometimes I have nothing to say."

There had been suggestions Chelsea would boycott the media, certainly the television cameras, as an objection to this match being brought forward two days in order for it to be shown live - having only played Wigan in the league on Monday.

However, Grant said that was not the case. He was asked: "Is it because of Sky?"

He replied: "Maybe it is because of you, I don't know."

When it was suggested he may prefer to say nothing, Grant added: "It's a good question, I don't know what to answer. It's not Sky, I enjoy watching them."

Everton manager David Moyes was more obliging, despite seeing the chance of securing fourth spot ahead of Merseyside rivals Liverpool virtually extinguished.

"Chelsea have been difficult again, no arguments," he said. "We didn't play well enough to win the game.

"We kept at it, we gave ourselves a chance in that second half, but we lacked any quality and that made a difference.

"Our goalkeeper wasn't troubled much, but neither was theirs. That was disappointing, but we have not been creating chances recently.

"We should have stopped the one-two in the box when they scored and I was hoping we could get through to half-time on level terms, but it wasn't to be.

"Maybe we could then have made things different but goals change games, Chelsea had a lot of the ball and although we tried with two up front, we couldn't achieve much.

"Chelsea made sure they did their job properly. We know we are a bit away from them, but there has been a lot of spending put into these four teams above us.

"I don't like talking about our injuries, and we were missing creative players. But we have played them this season will all our top players and still lost.

"I still believe that Manchester United will win the Premier League, if Chelsea had beaten Wigan on Monday it might well be a bit different, but I think it is over, United are still favourites."

:: Here is the transcript of what was said at Grant's presser.

Question: Are you back in the hunt?

Answer: Maybe not.

Q: Was it a deserved win?

A: Yes.

Q: What pleased you most?

A: I don't know.

Q: Is it a relief to win here?

A: Yes.

Q: Were you impressed by the performance or the result?

A: Both.

Q: You seem to have something on your mind, a problem?

A: No, no problem.

Q: An issue?

A: No, I'm okay, sometimes I have nothing to say.

Q: Do you have a message for the Chelsea fans, who think you are back in the title race?

A: No message.

Q: But you are back in it now?

A: I don't know.

Q: Is it because of Sky TV (who had switched the game to Thursday)

A: Maybe it is because of you, I don't know.

Q: Would you rather say nothing?

A: It's a good question, I don't know what to answer. It's not Sky, I enjoy watching them.

Q: You are two points behind Man Utd but you don't know whether you are back in the title race?

A: No, I don't know

Q: Are you in the title race again?

A: I don't know. I am sorry, you can write what you want and I will answer how I want.