Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson really had a game to forget at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Jackson was handed a red card in Chelsea‘s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United after an elbow on Sven Botman.
It took a VAR review for the 23-year-old to be sent off, but in the end he cannot have too many complaints.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has given his verdict on Jackson’s dismissal, adamant that John Brooks made the right decision.
Photo by Michael Driver | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Michael Driver | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Eddie Howe agrees with Nicolas Jackson’s red card for Chelsea
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe spoke about Jackson’s sending off after the game and like Clattenburg, he also agreed with Brooks’ final decision.
“Yeah, initially my gut reaction was that it’s a sending off,” Howe told Chronicle Live and others after the match. “I can see that Jackson wasn’t looking at the ball, he was looking at the man.
“I think that always puts you in a vulnerable position, especially if you make contact with your elbow like you did. I’ve just seen it when I was being interviewed on the TV there and for me my opinion hasn’t changed.”
Being dismissed in the first half, Jackson put Chelsea at such a huge disadvantage. Understandably, Enzo Maresca was not happy with his striker.
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As he headed for the tunnel, Maresca was seen ignoring Jackson, clearly frustrated by his reckless behaviour.
Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy had no sympathy for Jackson either, believing that Brooks made the right call.
The Blues will now be without Jackson for their final two Premier League games of the season. They take on Manchester United next before having to face Nottingham Forest in a clash that could decide which team gets a Champions League spot.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Shocking Nicolas Jackson stat emerges after Newcastle red
It would be an understatement to say that Jackson’s 2025 so far has not gone well. The Senegal international has had to endure both a goal drought and injury this year.
Jackson has been so unproductive in attack that, according to WhoScored, he now has more cards than goal contributions in the Premier League in 2025.
Overall, it has been a bit of a disappointing campaign for Jackson, who has only managed to score 10 goals in the top flight. Last term, the former Villarreal man managed 14, though he did play five more games.