Chelsea vs Sunderland ref watch: Three decisions Andy Madley got wrong
Andy Madley was forced to deal with a frantic, high-octane affair as Chelsea slumped to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea started the brighter side and soon took the lead inside four minutes as summer signing from Man United Alejandro Garnacho finished neatly under Robin Roefs after a quick breakaway.
Sunderland have been the Premier League’s surprise package this season, though, and they did not lie down and accept their fate as Wilson Isidor bundled home an equaliser from a long-throw in the 22nd minute.
The second period saw the hosts dominate the ball but struggle to make clear-cut chances, and it eventually went Sunderland‘s way as Chemsdine Talbi scored an added-time winner to win it 2-1.
Andy Madley was the man in the middle at Stamford Bridge, and Football Insider have picked out three decisions he made that should have gone a different way.
Trai Hume should have been booked
Trai Hume has impressed this season and is one of the few Sunderland players who has been able to keep his place in the starting eleven following their promotion from the Championship.
He started his ninth consecutive top-flight game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (25 October), but was lucky to not see yellow for the first time this season for a rash tackle on goal-scorer Garnacho.
The Northern Ireland international went through the Chelsea winger two-footed just before the interval, and while a free-kick was given and Madley spoke to him, he deserved a booking too for the nature of the challenge.
Pedro Neto deserved a yellow for simulation
Things did not quite fall Pedro Neto‘s way on a hard-fought afternoon in West London, with Garnacho enjoying more joy on the other flank.
He did draw two fouls from Black Cats players, however, but the latter of that pair should have instead gone the way of the visitors as he claimed he was caught by Reinildo‘s flailing arm.
There may have been a slight hint of contact from the Sunderland defender on Neto’s face, but it was certainly not enough for a free-kick to be given as Madley blew his whistle, and the Portugal international was instead more deserving of a booking for simulation.
Marc Cucurella not punished for kicking the ball away
The game became stretched as time ticked on, but Sunderland remained in it right until the last and will have felt hard done by as Marc Cucurella failed to receive a booking for a clear offence.
Black Cats substitute Talbi picked the ball up on the right flank and looked to break away before the Spaniard stopped him in his tracks and was rightly penalised.
Madley, however, did then fail to book Cucurella for his reaction, as he booted the ball away from anger and should have seen yellow for obviously delaying the restart.