Penders blunders and Palmer is sent off as Spurs beat Chelsea

An error by keeper Mike Penders helped Tottenham to victory at Stamford Bridge, where Cole Palmer was sent off.

Penders, making his first league start for the Blues, after replacing the injured Emi Martinez, attempted to punch away a 77th-minute corner but fisted the ball backwards and over the line before Maxence Lacroix was able to hook it away.

A frustrated Palmer was dismissed three minutes later, when a late challenge on former Chelsea man Conor Gallagher brought him a second yellow card.

And a superb goal by Mathys Tel sealed Spurs’ win.

Tel raced down the left and evaded a couple of challenges before drilling a low shot that Penders was unable to keep out of the bottom corner.

Chelsea, without forward Joao Pedro, who picked up an injury ahead of the game, were well below par.

They were arguably fortunate not to end the match with nine men – Morgan Rogers might well have been sent off for a crude stoppage-time challenge on Gallagher.

Chelsea: Penders; Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto (Welbeck 88), Caicedo, Henderson, Hato (Palestra 65); Palmer, Rogers, Quenda (Estevao 72).

Subs not used: Sharman-Lowe, Fofana, Gusto, Barco, Lavia, Nicoll-Jazuli.