Tottenham Hotspur beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League.

It was the first time that the Lilywhites had secured a victory at Stamford Bridge since April 2018. Mateus Fernandes’ inswinging corner saw stand-in goalkeeper Mike Penders bundle the ball into his own net before a wonderful solo goal from Mathys Tel killed the game off late on.

Spurs produced a performance of authority and discipline, whilst nullifying Chelsea’s impressive attacking unit. They also got under the skin of the home side’s talisman, Cole Palmer, who lost his calm after Fernandes stopped the Blues during a swift transition, with the English playmaker picking up a yellow card following a violent barge on the Spurs midfielder. And some minutes later, Palmer got the marching orders from referee Chris Kavanagh after he naughtily left his mark on Conor Gallagher’s ankle.

Gary Neville thinks Chelsea should have been reduced to nine men vs. Tottenham

Palmer was rightly sent off by Kavanagh, but former Manchester United captain Gary Neville thinks Chelsea should have been down to nine men. The Sky Sports commentator claims Morgan Rogers should also have been shown a red card.

This came after a cynical foul on Gallagher, with Rogers kicking the midfielder without any clear intent to play the ball. Gary Neville believes the challenge was on the borderline of a straight sending off, but Rogers escaped with a yellow card.

“That is a bad one, he’s got to be careful, it is a shocker that actually. Rogers, I hate those ones,” Neville said on Sky Sports commentary.

“Jordan Henderson has got loads of experience, but he should actually be furious with Rogers. I actually think that these ones are near to reds as well. I actually think that’s a red. I do, I just think it’s absolutely reckless. He’s absolutely welled him, no intent, the ball is nowhere near.”

Rogers’ red card call contentious

Neville’s call is debatable. It is true that Rogers had no intention to play or win the ball from Gallagher. His actions were born out of frustration, wiping out the Tottenham midfielder in the process. And why won’t he be frustrated?

Rogers chased shadows for the majority of the game, as Spurs midfielders ran rings around him and his teammates. The England international has been in brilliant form for Chelsea after arriving from Aston Villa in the summer, registering four goals and an assist in eight league outings, but against Tottenham, he endured his worst performance in a Blue shirt.

Massive credit to our central defenders Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke for executing a relentless pressing structure to deny Rogers access to his preferred half-spaces. The Dutch duo stepped out aggressively whenever passes were funnelled into central zones, ensuring the 24-year-old never got comfortable turning to face goal.

Also, Tottenham midfielders Tonali and Fernandes constantly cut off passing lanes to Rogers and Palmer, frustrating the duo so severely that one of them got sent off. Whether Rogers was lucky to stay on the pitch remains up for debate.