Sunday’s win over Crystal Palace was easily Liam Rosenior’s most-convincing win since taking over at Chelsea. A comfortable 3-1 away win at Selhurst Park, but it could have been different.
That’s now four wins in five for Rosenior and Chelsea since replacing Enzo Maresca. A 5-1 FA Cup win against Charlton, a 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Arsenal and then wins over Brentford and Pafos.
The wins against Charlton and Pafos were expected, the defeat to Arsenal was spirited but predictable. Then, a trip to Palace, even if Palace are in the midst of a crisis, to win with such ease, was convincing.
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But it could have been very different. Jean-Philippe Mateta could have scored early on after a mistake from Benoit Badiashile, while Chelsea could have also been reduced to 10 men in the first half.
David Seaman stunned Pedro Neto not sent off
In the first half, Neto stamped on Ismaila Sarr. It is unclear if the Portugal star did it on purpose or not. But replays suggested the former Wolves star had stamped on Sarr on purpose, and that it was avoidable.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, David Seaman says he could not believe Neto avoided a red card. Seaman’s comments come after Palace boss Oliver Glasner said Neto should have been sent off.
Chelsea's Pedro Neto during the Premier League match between Fulham and Chelsea
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Seaman said that he’s worried Neto would have had to hurt Sarr to get a red: “When I first saw this, I thought that’s a deliberate stamp. Apparently, VAR had a look at it and said there was minimal contact.
“But that’s deliberate? Has he really got to hurt him to warrant a red card? I find it strange that no action was taken and it wasn’t longer after that Chelsea scored,” Seaman continued, on the Neto incident.
Michael Owen and Owen Hargreaves discussed Neto’s challenge
It wasn’t a nice challenge, deliberate or accidental, and Sarr will have felt full force of it. Thankfully for Chelsea, Darren England did not send Neto off and Chelsea would go on to win 3-1, with 11 players.
Pedro Neto really needs to mix up his game 🤦♂️
What did you make of his performance against Pafos?
Pedro Neto's number of crosses vs Pafos
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
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Indeed, it was Palace that were reduced to 10 men, with Adam Wharton receiving two yellow cards on Sunday. Michael Owen though, agrees with Seaman: “It’s intentional, it’s a stamp, he’s a lucky boy.”
Meanwhile, Owen Hargreaves half-defended Neto, saying he isn’t like that: “He’s not that type of player. That, he’s meant that. I have no idea how they haven’t made a different decision.”
All eyes are now on Chelsea’s trip to Naples on Wednesday night, as the Blues go up against an old friend in Antonio Conte. Neto will be hoping to start, but Estevao and Alejandro Garnacho could be picked.
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