Chelsea's turbulent season took another dramatic turn for the worse as goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was given his marching orders in a chaotic and controversial defeat to Aston Villa.
The Spanish shot-stopper's afternoon ended in disgrace after a reckless second-half challenge on Villa striker Ollie Watkins, leaving referee Jarred Gillett with no choice but to produce a straight red card.
The moment of madness occurred just beyond the hour mark with the score delicately poised at 0-0. Sánchez, venturing far outside his penalty area in a desperate attempt to clear a long ball, misjudged the situation entirely. He clattered into the England international, taking out the player with a dangerous, high challenge that left the Villa medical team rushing onto the pitch.
Referee Gillett immediately deemed the challenge serious foul play, dismissing the Chelsea number one and reducing the Blues to ten men for the remainder of the match.
The dismissal completely shifted the momentum of the game. With their numerical advantage, Unai Emery's Aston Villa side seized control. They eventually broke the deadlock, compounding Chelsea's misery and securing a vital victory that leaves Mauricio Pochettino under increasing pressure.
This incident is sure to spark intense debate amongst pundits and fans alike. While some may argue the goalkeeper was committed to the ball, the reckless nature of the challenge and the clear danger to Watkins made the referee's decision almost inevitable.
Sánchez will now face a mandatory suspension, adding a goalkeeping crisis to Pochettino's growing list of problems at Stamford Bridge.
