Diego Costa: Paul Scholes claims Chelsea striker could 'cause a row in an empty house... he just looks stupid if he's not scoring'

Costa was dropped to the bench for the draw at Tottenham Hotspur

Diego Costa on the bench in the pink bib behind Jose Mourinho (Getty Images)

Paul Scholes thrown salt on Diego Costa's wounds after the Chelsea striker was dropped for the 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Costa has just seven goals in 10 months in 2015 and didn't make it off the bench at White Hart Lane, although he did hit the headlines again after throwing a bib at Jose Mourinho.

Former Manchester United midfielder Scholes has blasted the striker's 'stupid' antics, which earlier saw him banned after tangling with Gabriel Paulista and Laurent Koscielny in the 2-0 win over Arsenal in September.

"I think (he's been dropped) because he's not been playing well enough," Scholes said on BT Sport before the match.

"It's pretty obvious from last year, when you look at the stats - he's scored nowhere near the amount of goals, and he just hasn't contributed.

"We know he's a very good centre forward, he's at his best when he's fighting, when he's arguing, when he's kicking, but when he's not scoring goals with that, it stands out.

"This is what he's good at, when he's fighting - I won't say at his best, but it's what he's good at. He'd cause a row in an empty house."

However, without the goals to back it up Scholes said it looks stupid and lazy.

"But if the goals aren't coming with that, it just looks stupid. It's a lack of effort."

Mourinho opted to pick Eden Hazard in a 'false 9' role for the match, with Pedro and Willian on the wings and Oscar behind the striker - Chelsea created a couple of chances but appeared happy with a point.

The Portuguese also played down the bib row.

"For me his behaviour is normal," he said. "A top player on the bench will not be happy.

"If he wants to hurt me it would not be with a bib. I have a good relationship with him."