Morgan Rogers should have been sent off for a challenge on James Garner during Chelsea’s win over Everton, according to former referee Mike Dean.

The Blues ran out 2-0 victors on Merseyside in Saturday’s lunchtime Premier League kick-off thanks to a second-half brace from Pedro Neto, though their triumph was marred by a sickening clash of heads that saw goalkeeper Emi Martinez stretchered off and taken to hospital.

Though that was a totally accidental collision with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite as Martinez came rushing out of his goal to try and punch clear a free-kick delivery into the Chelsea penalty area, it was nevertheless a feisty encounter at the Hill Dickinson Stadium featuring seven yellow cards - five of which came in a combative first half.

One of the biggest flashpoints came just two minutes before the break, when England team-mates Rogers and Garner both flew into a wincing 50/50 challenge that left each of them hurt.

Rogers was already on a yellow card after an earlier clash with James Tarkowski, but did not receive any further punishment as Garner also escaped reprimand by referee Paul Tierney.

Everton fans - as well as Garner himself - were fuming at the decision and booed the officials off at the interval, also aggrieved over a caution dished out to Harrison Armstrong for an earlier tackle on Josh Acheampong that they felt was fair.

And their ire was fully justified according to ex-referee Dean, who said on Sky Sports: “I think it’s a minimum yellow.

50/50 tackle: Morgan Rogers and James Garner were both hurt in the challenge

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“I called red straight away. When you see the angle we’ve seen now, he doesn’t get the ball, Rogers. He might’ve just flicked it, but he catches him with his stud just on the inside of Garner’s knee.

“I think it’s a straight red me, I really do. I just think it’s not a good tackle at all.”

Everton boss David Moyes also felt that Rogers - who went on to play a key role in Chelsea’s first goal - could have been sent off as he railed against the yellow card shown to Armstrong.

“We have got referees who we want to be the best in Europe because they let things go but I thought it looked a half-decent tackle (by Armstrong),” he said.

“Someone might tell me different. I wasn’t sure it was the right decision. I was disappointed with the decision at the time.

“I’ve had a wee look at the Morgan Rogers tackle on Jimmy which some might have said something different, which would have made it a second yellow and that wasn’t the case.”