Jason Cundy had no defence for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson after his costly red card in Sunday’s defeat against Newcastle United.
Chelsea’s chances of Champions League qualification took a dent by losing 2-0 away to Newcastle in the Premier League.
Sandro Tonali scored inside two minutes and Bruno Guimaraes netted in the 90th minute to earn the Magpies three points, which lifts them up to third in the division table.
However, the major talking point was the moment that saw Nicolas Jackson sent off in the 35th minute. After a VAR check, the 23-year-old Blues striker was shown a red card for his elbow on Sven Botman.
On top of Jackson leaving his team playing with 10 men against Newcastle, he’s now suspended for the rest of the league season to leave a major void in the centre-forward position.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca didn’t acknowledge Nicolas Jackson as he went down the tunnel after the red card.
Jason Cundy reacts to Nicolas Jackson red card
Jason Cundy predicts Jackson will be apologising to the rest of his Chelsea teammates after he let them down against Newcastle.
Cundy said via Chelsea’s official app: (12:55pm, 11 May): “It’s a disappointing red card. I can’t defend it. It wouldn’t surprise me if he issued some sort of apology to his players for that. It really was stupid. I can’t think of any other word. Idiotic.
“In a game that we were struggling in anyway, in a game where we were always second best, it does feel to me like we’ve thrown those three points away just from that red card.”
In the Chelsea player ratings versus Newcastle, Jackson received a 1/10 for his performance. On the biggest day of the club’s season so far, he let everybody down with his actions.
Nicolas Jackson was clapped off against Liverpool seven days ago in a league victory. He’s quickly gone from hero to zero, though.
Owen Hargreaves verdict on Nicolas Jackson red card
Owen Hargreaves agrees with the decision to send off Jackson for his challenge on Botman.
Hargreaves said via the Premier League’s official website (1:03pm, 11 May): “Nicolas Jackson just can’t do that. You know the centre-back is going to come but you can’t put your arm up. Once you have a look, you’re in trouble – he catches him clean and it’s a naughty challenge. Once the referee looks at the screen, it’s the easiest decision.”
Unless Jackson plays in the Conference League final against Real Betis at the end of May, his second campaign with the Blues is over.
Not only has he let everyone down against Newcastle, making the contest so much harder, but he’ll miss the final two league matches against Manchester United (home) and Nottingham Forest (away).
