While Chelsea’s thrilling 4-3 win over Tottenham showed their class in front of goal, their task of coming back could have been made impossible before half-time.
Moises Caicedo’s heavy challenge just before the break was eventually waved away by officials, however some were convinced he should have seen red.
Chelsea will argue that Dejan Kulusevski should also have been dismissed for an elbow on Romeo Lavia in the first-half too.
The Belgian midfielder was cut on the head, and forced to come off at half-time and was replaced by Malo Gusto.
The change saw Caicedo move into midfield again after starting in right-back, and it is fair to say was back to the ability that he has been showing for the majority of the summer.
Moises Caicedo of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Dec...
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
He remained on the pitch, and the audio from VAR hinted that there was not excessive force that would have warranted the red card.
They said: “Comes into the tackle. Catches him at a glancing blow and then down onto the floor. So he catches him and then goes down onto the floor.
“I don’t think that’s serious foul play. I don’t think that there’s any evidence for serious foul play. I don’t think he goes through him with excessive force.”
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What Dermot Gallagher said about Caicedo challenge
Given the fact the Blues won by just a goal, Spurs fans will point to the Ecuadorian’s strong-natured tackle as a real turning point in the game.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believed a yellow card was required, something which was not given to the player.
He said: “I think it’s a yellow card. I can understand why Jamie Carragher thinks it’s a red. I think he goes down, puts his foot into the ground and doesn’t go through it — that’s what saves him. If he catches him half-way up the shin, he’s going to get a red card.
“What everybody’s looking for now is intensity. Has he got it, has he got the momentum, has he gone through it? His boot comes down on the pitch, rather than his shin. That’s what saves him.”
Caicedo avoided a red card and is therefore available for selection when the Blues are back in Premier League action against Brentford.
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