Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien returned from injury to score the winner against Fulham but now faces a three-match ban after a picking up a red card at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien returned from injury to score the winner against Fulham but now faces a three-match ban after a picking up a red card at Stamford Bridge.
ADVERTISEMENT
Essien who had earlier headed the only goal of a 1-0 victory, was handed a straight red card for an ugly two-footed challenge on Fulham striker Clint Dempsey as the clock wound down.
The Ghana international will now miss Premier League games against Sunderland, Birmingham City and Newcastle unless Chelsea launch a successful appeal against the punishment.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti claimed that from where he was standing the tackle appeared legitimate - but his opposite number Mark Hughes was unequivocal.
"The guy's jumped in with two feet, so that is a straight red, he has to go. That's my view on it," Hughes said.
The dismissal overshadowed a hard-fought win for Chelsea, who extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points after Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Manchester City.
"It was a hard tackle but it was on the ball. It was not a risk for the player," Ancelotti said. "He went for the ball and it was the last action of the game, so it was a very important ball.
"I don't think he was silly, he won the tackle and I don't think it was a red card. Directly from the pitch I didn't see it was a card."
Essien's goal came off a Salomon Kalou cross and was scored while Didier Drogba was lying prone in the box.
Hughes was left frustrated his players appeared to wait for referee Martin Atkinson to stop play for the fallen Drogba.
The Fulham manager added: "That is a disappointment because we were distracted by Drogba lying in the box.
"You still have to play to the whistle and we were guilty of allowing players to run off us because we were expecting the referee to stop play and we paid the penalty.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti admitted a ban for Essien could prove problematic for his side, who still have Frank Lampard yet to return from a hernia operation.
Lampard is pencilled in for a return for this weekend's home fixture against Sunderland, but Ancelotti added: "I hope he is not [banned] for three games, it would be a problem if we lose him for three games.
"I will watch the replay then I will decide if I will appeal.
"Lampard will be OK I think. He has started to train with the team and I hope he will be able to play. If he is OK he can start, but I don't think he will be able to play 90 minutes."
Didier Drogba, who was revealed to have been suffering from malaria for the past month was a subdued figure for much of the game.
And Ancelotti admitted it will take time before he returns to full fitness.
"He was tired," the Italian said. "We need to take time to get him into the best condition. His performance was good but obviously he was tired because he hasn't trained 100 per cent during this period."
u00a0
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
