Reflecting on another heavy away defeat, he admits he is at a loss to explain why the team with the best home defensive record in the Premiership also has the worst away statistics in that department.
West Ham have conceded 32 goals away - but just seven at home after a dozen awaydays and 11 home matches so far this campaign.
When asked if he knew why such an anomaly exists, Paul admits: "No, not directly. We feel we were our own undoing and gave the ball away sloppily on a number of their goals."
Looking at the game as a whole, he says: "The goal just before half time was crucial, and it was a dreadful one. We have done very well this year on set pieces and I think it is only the second we have given away on corners against.
"But we were all over the shop there. Gudjohnsen was spare and then Hasselbaink was spare, and that was a vital goal.
"We talked about trying to be solid in the second half and we started with the ball well, but then gave it away and we are 2-0 down.
"We showed a lot of ill discipline in giving the ball away. Credit to Chelsea, some of their football going forward was exhilarating, but we certainly helped them along the way with some of our passing and midfield play."
Paul knows only too well that changing personnel for this weekend is not the likeliest of options - unless enforced by the injury to Trevor Sinclair - though tactics can always be tinkered, and he adds: "We all know that the squad is not massive and that is the personnel we have got. We will have to have a good long think about it, obviously.
"We have had a tanking and we think a lot of it is down to our own selves, so let's hope we are all focused this Saturday.
"We might have to do something a little bit different - we will have to wait and see."