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Two moments of madness saw Chelsea storm to a 3-1 lead against Southampton in midweek action.
Chelsea took part in a first half of madness at St Mary's Stadium on Wednesday night as struggling Southampton imploded in embarrassing style under the floodlights on the south coast.
The Saints started the match brightly, drawing a good save from Filip Jorgensen in the opening minutes. Chelsea took the lead through Axel Disasi, who nodded in from a corner, but Russell Martin's side were level moments later thanks to Joe Aribo.
It was from then that the recently promoted side shot themselves in the foot with a comedy of errors that left supporters with heads in hands. It started as goalkeeper Joe Lumley took the risky decision to play out from the back with Chelsea pressing high.
Chelsea gifted second goal
The shot-stopper, who is filling in for the injured Aaron Ramsdale, miscalculated his pass with Noni Madueke easily stealing in to win possession. He teed up Christopher Nkunku, who calmly slotted into an open goal from the edge of the box.
Reacting to that goal on Prime Video, former Liverpool and Leeds United man Stephen Warnock said: "My word, what are they doing? Why are you trying to play that ball into a defender when he's got a man on his back? Look at Madueke, he knows he wants to go and put that pressure on, pinches his pocket, simple pass. Nkunku has been quiet but is so clinical. They are the architects of their own downfall this Southampton team. You've just got yourself back in the game and then you do that to yourselves. So silly.
Nkunku celebrates scoring against Southampton.Nkunku celebrates scoring against Southampton.
Nkunku celebrates scoring against Southampton. | AFP via Getty Images
"I bet he can't believe the gift he's just been given. That is just criminal from Southampton. Russell Martin, I know you want to play a certain way, but you can't have your players playing that way."
Southampton boss Martin was then seen kicking a drinks container on the touchline, struggling to hide his frustration, but it was going to go from bad to worse for the former Swansea City manager.
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Southampton man sent of for hair pull
As the Saints tried to work their way back into the game, they won a corner shortly after conceding a third. Before the set play was taken, full-back Marc Cucurella hit the turf after an off-the-ball challenge from Jack Stephens.
Referee Tony Harrington didn't see the coming together but was sent to the screen by VAR, where a replayed showed Stephens taking the strange decision to give Cucurella a tug by the hair. Deemed violent conduct, the Southampton man was shown a red card and given his marching orders.
Reacting to that moment, Warnock said: "People will say it's only minimal, it doesn't matter. He [Cucurella] is within his rights to go down and make the most of it. It's very, very silly. You've let your teammates down. That's unacceptable, something as simple as that. Silly boy."
Throwing over to former referee Mark Clattenburg, the expert said: "It's certainly an act of craziness. It's interesting because not every pull is going to be a foul but when you pull somebody's hair, that's not a footballing action. You can pull a shit but not hair.
"He's paid the price of a violent conduct action, pulling their hair in a violent way. He's going to receive a sending off and a three-match ban."
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