Chelsea robbed of ‘definite penalty’ vs Crystal Palace – Mike Dean
Chelsea were denied a clear penalty in their clash with Crystal Palace, former referee Mike Dean has said.
Despite winning praise this season, Blues manager Enzo Maresca may have been feeling some pressure going into the match at Selhurst Park on Saturday (4 January), after going three game without a win.
His side started well though, taking an 1-0 lead into half-time following some excellent work from Jadon Sancho set up Cole Palmer to open the scoring.
However, Chelsea would be denied a chance to double their advantage 63 minutes in, when they missed out on the award of the penalty.
With Maresca’s side on the attack, the ball broke to Pedro Neto just inside the Crystal Palace area, where Tyrick Mitchell came in with a sliding challenge.
Although the Eagles full-back brought down the Blues winger without seeming to get contact on the ball, referee Tim Robinson did not award a penalty on-field, a decision that was then confirmed by VAR.
Dean though, believes that Chelsea should have been awarded a spot-kick. Discussing the incident on Sky Sports‘ Soccer Saturday (4:26pm), former Arsenal man Paul Merson said: “They didn’t show me the replay again but Mike’s seen it. Mitchell goes in with Neto, both go in at the same time.
“First of all, my first reaction was a penalty, it seemed rash. Mike said he’s seen it and he thinks that he didn’t get near the ball. They went upstairs, didn’t give it.”
Ex-referee Dean then added: “Yeah I think it’s a penalty kick. I think Neto’s got there first, knocked the ball away and Mitchell’s caught him from behind, so I think it should be a penalty.”
After host Simon Thomas then asked how the officials had not spotted the incident, Dean replied: “He’s probably looked at it and thought he might have got a touch on the ball, but I’ve slowed it down a few times and he hasn’t touched the ball so, for me, I think it should have been intervention and definite penalty.”
Chelsea penalty call proves costly for Enzo Maresca and co.
Football Insider Opinion
Had that spot-kick been awarded for Enzo Maresca’s side, few would have bet against Palmer going on to convert it.
That would then have given Chelsea a 2-0 lead, putting them well in control of the game and on course for three points.
Being denied the penalty denied the visitors the chance to do that at Selhurst Park, and they were made to pay for it.
Jean-Philippe Mateta would go on to equalise for Crystal Palace and that would be enough to ensure both sides were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.
That leaves Chelsea winless in their last four games, and means they have dropped more points in the race for the title and the Champions League spot.
All of that puts more pressure on Maresca, all of which would likely not have happened had they been given a penalty many feel they should have been awarded.
In other news, Chelsea fans want two players sold after the latest Enzo Maresca update.
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