Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has now given his say on whether Chelsea’s opponents yesterday should have been reduced to 10 men in the second half.
He was talking to Sky Sports’ Ref Watch after Sheffield United player Jack Robinson had clattered into Chelsea star Cole Palmer when the scores were level.
Palmer was far from his best in yesterday’s 2-2 draw, despite the fact he was able to register another assist to take his combined tally with goals to 25 in the Premier League this season.
Palmer the star man for Chelsea
This has not been reached for the Blues since Eden Hazard was at the club, and is a showcase of how just how much he has carried his side this season.
Part of becoming one of the best players in the league this season will likely see him begin to be targeted by opposing players more often.
This defintiely happened yesterday, with Robinson coming in recklessly on him early in the second half.
Jack Robinson could have seen red
The Englishman was only handed a yellow card for his foul, with Gallagher saying it really was not too far away from being a sending off.
He said: “Not a nice tackle. I think he must be very, very high on the yellow card threshold.
“The referee thinks he’s low but his other foot isn’t. Cole Palmer gets up and smiles – it defuses it a lot. He’s done him a big favour.”
While you would think that playing against 10 men would give Chelsea the advantage in a game they conceded late in to drop two points, there is no evidence this season to suggest that would actually be the case.
The Blues were a goal up against 10-man Burnley just last week, however ended the game with the same scoreline that they did yesterday.
Earlier this season West Ham went down to 10 men against the Blues, however a nightmare debut for Moises Caicedo only added to their misery in a 3-1 loss.