Chelsea keeper SENT OFF just five minutes into Man Utd clash after blunder

Robert Sanchez was shown a red card just five minutes into Chelsea's clash with Manchester United after he was judged to have denied Bryan Mbeumo a goalscoring opportunity just outside his penalty area.

The Chelsea goalkeeper left his area and scythed down Mbeumo as the United forward looked to race through on goal in difficult conditions at Old Trafford. It immediately felt like Sanchez was in big trouble and, after taking a moment to gather his thoughts, referee Peter Bankes flourished a red card to reduce the Blues to 10 men.

Things got even worse for Chelsea just nine minutes later when Bruno Fernandes ghosted into the penalty area to break the deadlock with a neat close-range finish past Sanchez's replacement in between the sticks, Filip Jorgensen.

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Enzo Maresca made three changes inside the opening 20 minutes following the red card and Fernandes' goal withCole Palmer a high-profile casualty. But the changes couldn't prevent the 10-men of Chelsea from going 2-0 down when Casemiro made the most of some slack defending in the penalty area to head home at the back post.

Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith seemed to suggest that Sanchez was unfortunate to be sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity given there were Chelsea defenders in and around the area after running back into position. "There was two Chelsea defenders chasing back, it was two against one in Chelsea's favour and the referee still feels that is an obvious goal-scoring opportunity," he said.

"It is a big, big call. It is certainly a foul, he was late on the scene, a poor challenge. It is always a subjective decision that one. I don't think VAR are going to go against the ref on that occasion."

Pat Nevin, analysing the game for BBC Radio 5 Live, was less sympathetic and felt it was a nailed on sending off. "Robert Sanchez had to come for it. Bryan Mbeumo was away, flying towards the goalkeeper," the former Blues favourite said.

"In this sort of rain, things happen. If you come out that far, you have to win the ball. That is the absolute definition of a red card."

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