One penalty, 25 fouls, numerous blasts of the referee’s whistle and 14 yellow playing cards… behold the worst-behaved sport in Premier League historical past.
Chelsea gamers acquired eight bookings and Bournemouth six on the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, setting a file for cautions, below the stewardship of match official Anthony Taylor.
The earlier highest variety of yellow playing cards in a match was 12 when Chelsea performed London rivals Tottenham in 2016, and the identical quantity for Wolves in opposition to Newcastle in 2010.
Earlier at the moment (Sunday), it briefly regarded like yesterday’s file may final lower than 24 hours, when seven yellows had been proven within the first 45 minutes of Tottenham in opposition to Arsenal, equalling the Premier League file for a primary half, however larger self-discipline was employed within the second half of that match.
So Bournemouth in opposition to Chelsea, which was received by the latter 1-0 courtesy of Christopher Nkunku’s Eightieth-minute purpose, now wears the crown for being the worst-behaved Premier League match ever.
Right here The Athletic examines each reserving to see what was occurring…
Reserving 1, 18mins
Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie will get us up and operating. The 29-year-old caught Cole Palmer on prime of his proper quad along with his knee, simply because the England worldwide had acquired a move and flicked it previous him in a single nimble movement.
Down on the turf, Palmer appeals for the foul, sees it given, then reveals some extra ache for good measure. Christie takes the reserving with solely delicate complaints.
Ryan Christie, celebration starter (Ryan Hiscott/Getty Photos)
Reserving 2, 31mins
The ball is lofted ahead in direction of Bournemouth’s €47million (£40.3m; $51.7m) summer time signing Evanilson, who jostles to win the header with Wesley Fofana. The Chelsea defender makes what seems to be minimal contact along with his arm to the Brazilian’s cheek, however it’s sufficient to ship him down clutching his face. Evanilson will get the free kick he hoped for and Fofana is within the e book.
“The referee felt it was too aggressive, (however) I might disagree there,” says former Republic of Eire worldwide Andy Townsend, on Peacock’s co-commentary. “I don’t suppose what Fofana did was something uncommon. Sure, he bought slapped throughout the face, however it wasn’t an elbow.”
Reserving 3, 35mins
Once more, Palmer’s fast ft are getting folks in bother. He receives one other move out on the correct aspect and Lewis Prepare dinner steams in to shut him down however catches him ever so barely.
Each Bournemouth defensive midfielders are within the e book now. Prepare dinner had been protecting Palmer shut and it will make their job of thwarting him rather more fraught.
All stated and accomplished, it’s a comfortable reserving — and Prepare dinner leads the Premier League rating for many fouls dedicated up to now this season with 13.
Reserving 4, 36mins
Minutes after he went down in search of a foul, Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella dishes it out himself.
Evanilson challenges Levi Colwill close to the touchline and Cucurella bounds over, turns his again and barges the striker, kicking his leg out. He then dares to look shocked when Taylor blows his whistle and delivers the yellow.
Reserving 5, 37mins
Fofana’s weak move again to his goalkeeper Robert Sanchez — as Evanilson sprints in behind — makes life tough for the Chelsea No 1. Because the Bournemouth ahead chips the ball over Sanchez, the goalkeeper clatters him. Contact was pretty minimal however a penalty will not be unreasonable.
It’s a silver-lining for Sanchez, who saves the spot kick.
Reserving 6, 38mins
Our first reserving of the night for dissent.
Some context is useful right here. The edge for dissent — speaking again, over-protesting or verbally slighting the ref — was decreased final season. The reveamped Premier League guidelines imply that when a couple of participant approaches the official, at the least a type of gamers, and doubtlessly extra, can be proven an computerized yellow card. The league has caught by that strategy this season to crack down on dissent.
So Bournemouth’s Adam Smith is proven yellow, maybe for demanding that Sanchez be despatched off.
Reserving 7, 52mins
“He’s operating out of room on that piece of paper,” says Peacock’s match-commentator Chris Sensible as Taylor punishes extra verbals, this time from Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson.
The Senegalese had been giving it the ‘beseeching arms’ gesture to Taylor, who was in no temper to supply mercy.
Reserving 8, 57mins
Colwill lunges right into a problem as Antoine Semenyo darts onto a knockdown, however the defender will get each ball and man. That’s three of Chelsea’s again 4 within the e book.
Gamers query the cardboard for Colwill, not pictured (Ryan Hiscott/Getty Photos)
Reserving 9, 57mins
“There’s one other yellow card there, brandished by Anthony Taylor,” says Townsend. “So many petty, pointless ones.”
And it does appear a contact petulant from the ref, proven to Jadon Sancho for arguing the toss over a free kick. Sancho does the praying-hands factor and grins as Taylor books him.
“He’s taking no prisoners for dissent, Anthony Taylor,” says the previous Arsenal striker Alan Smith on Sky Sports activities.
Reserving 10, 59mins
Essentially the most spectacular little bit of Justin Kluivert’s yellow right here is the sheer bloody-minded dedication. He sprints a great 20 yards to catch Noni Madueke as Chelsea counter-attack.
Hazard is paused as an expert foul is properly dispatched.
Then a outstanding 20 minutes move by with out a reserving…
Reserving 11, 80min
A correct old style yellow for Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi to get us again on a chaotic monitor. He flies proper via the again of Joao Felix, who lets out a yelp of ache.
The Argentine tries to plead for clemency however has no probability.
Reserving 12, 87min
A change of tempo as Taylor treats us to a reserving for neither foul nor dissent. This time, it’s youthful exuberance that lands Chelsea’s Renato Veiga in bother.
The 21-year-old had damaged the foundations by hurdling the promoting hoarding and leaping into the group to have a good time Nkunku’s purpose with supporters.
Reserving 13, 90mins+1
Chelsea substitute Joao Felix is making an lively cameo…
… as he decides to chase down Alex Scott earlier than shoving his hand within the Bournemouth man’s face.
Reserving 14, 90 min+6
One final punishment for dissent, then. Semenyo ensures we exit with a chronic moan.
A few of his rant is even delivered to Taylor’s again, because the ref maybe tries to offer him the good thing about the doubt. Taylor permits 20 seconds of griping earlier than turning round and providing his record-breaking last flourish.
“You might be embarrassing,” sing the pissed off Bournemouth followers.
And that’s it. Fourteen gamers booked — and that’s not even together with these for each head coaches, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca. Cue doubtless fines from the Soccer Affiliation for each groups and a darkened room for Taylor to go and lie down in.
(Prime photograph: Robert Sanchez will get a reserving; Ryan Hiscott by way of Getty Photos)
