Palmer sent off as Spurs win at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2018
Cole Palmer was sent off and goalkeeper Mike Penders punched a corner into his own net as Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge early on Sunday morning (AEDT), giving the visitors their first win at the ground since April 2018.
Mathys Tel added a late second to hand Roberto De Zerbi’s side a second straight league win, lifting Spurs to 12th on nine points, while Chelsea stay fourth on 13 points after their first home league defeat of the season.
Before this match, Tottenham had won only one of their previous 36 league visits to Chelsea, drawing 11 and losing 24, with that one win coming in a 3-1 victory on April 1, 2018.
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The game turned in a 16-minute spell late in the second half; Palmer was booked in the 71st minute after Mateus Fernandes handled the ball to stop a Chelsea attack and the Blues star barged into him, drawing in players and members of both benches.
Six minutes later, Fernandes swung in a corner from the left and Penders, challenged by Jan Paul van Hecke, tried to punch clear and sent the ball into his own net.
The 21-year-old was making his first Premier League start in place of Emi Martinez, who had surgery on a fractured jaw after a collision in last weekend’s win over Everton, and had saved from Omar Marmoush and Tel before the own goal.
In the 80th minute, Palmer caught Conor Gallagher with a late challenge in midfield, and referee Chris Kavanagh showed him a second yellow card. It was Chelsea’s first red card of the season, a day after Xabi Alonso had pointed to emotional control as a reason for the side’s improved disciplinary record. Palmer will now miss Wednesday’s Carabao Cup last-16 tie against Liverpool.
Tel finished the game off in the 87th minute, carrying the ball from near halfway, moving inside from the left and beating Penders with a low shot from outside the area.
De Zerbi started Fernandes and Sandro Tonali in midfield with James Maddison ahead of them, while Chelsea used Palmer and Morgan Rogers as false nines in a 4-2-4, with the Spurs duo outplaying Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson.
Tottenham finished with 68.5 per cent of possession and 15 shots to Chelsea’s seven as Antonin Kinsky made saves from Palmer, Henderson and Pedro Neto.
Maddison went off in the 51st minute with another physical problem, five days after his first start in 536 days against Coventry.
Chelsea were without Joao Pedro, who was injured in training on Friday. Geovany Quenda made his first Premier League start, while Danny Welbeck stayed on the bench until the 88th minute.
“He felt something yesterday in training. At the moment, he has some fluid (around the injury), so we have to do some tests to see how big is the injury is. For sure, it’s a disappointment, but we need to carry on,” Alonso told the club’s website before kick-off.
De Zerbi spoke about his midfield setup in post-match comments published by NBC Sports.
“Football is the quality of the play, the quality of the players, for sure, but it is a competition. It is a fight. You have to run, you have to fight, you have to arrive first to the second ball. You have to win the duels and we did.
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“We knew Chelsea play very well, they have clear organisation, clear structure on the pitch. We prepared our players with two midfielders and James Maddison with freedom, where he smells the right position.
“I think we deserved to win. The players worked very well, prepared very well. This morning, yesterday, all days in the last week and the qualities of the players are very clear. I’m happy for the spirit of the players. I think we have to change the last part of the history of our club. I would like to follow in this way.
“I think it is important for the players to belief more in themselves because their qualities are very high. We are happy for the fans, first of all, because we know what it means to beat Chelsea and for the club as well. In the last years they suffered, like the fans, they believe in this project, in this group and I’m happy for them.”
The Chelsea win followed a 3-1 home victory over Coventry on October 19.
Jackson double ends Manchester City’s perfect start at Villa Park
Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2-1, ending City’s seven-match winning start to the league season.
Jackson opened the scoring in the sixth minute, and Erling Haaland headed an equaliser in the 52nd. Jackson won it in the 60th minute with a low shot that went under the City goalkeeper.
Villa then held out under sustained pressure, with Zion Suzuki making several saves. City have now lost four consecutive league games at Villa Park.
Konsa and Gabriel on target as Arsenal draw level with City on 21 points
Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 to move level with Manchester City on 21 points.
Ezri Konsa scored his first Arsenal goal after a corner in the seventh minute, and Gabriel Magalhaes headed in a cross from the right in the 68th. Arsenal had 13 shots and won 10 corners in the first half alone.
It was Arsenal’s first match since Bukayo Saka suffered a quadriceps injury that is expected to keep him out for at least six weeks.
Bobb’s late winner at Coventry gives Fulham back-to-back wins
Oscar Bobb scored the only goal in the 80th minute as Fulham won 1-0 at Coventry. He beat two defenders out wide and curled a low finish across goal.
The result followed Fulham’s 1-0 win over Hull City. Josh King hit the crossbar for Fulham in the first half. Brandon Thomas-Asante headed narrowly over for Coventry and also forced a low save.