Chelsea 1-1 Burnley 

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Chelsea’s disciplinary problems are spiralling out of control and head coach Liam Rosenior must now know it’s an urgent issue. It’s almost reached the point that Rosenior might have to tweak his tactics to include simulations of playing with a man down in their training sessions because it’s happening so often – and too often. The 10-man Blues slumped to a disappointing 1-1 draw with Burnley after Wesley Fofana’s dismissal for two bookable offences, with Joao Pedro’s early opener cancelled out by a header from Zian Flemming.

With six red cards, Chelsea’s disciplinary record is the worst in the Premier League. That’s two more than any other team in the top flight, with Everton on four and West Ham, Tottenham and Newcastle on three. Their tally of 60 yellow cards is also the fourth-highest and they are not far adrift of unwanted leaders Brighton (65), who have remarkably managed to avoid a red card this season in their 27 matches. Given Chelsea have hired a manager, three players, a sporting director and a recruitment analyst from the Seagulls, perhaps they would be tempted to move for their sports psychologist to help them figure out how to avoid future dismissals.

Fofana chuckled almost in disbelief as he trudged off the pitch, but his manager certainly won’t be laughing. Up until his 73rd minute challenge on James Ward-Prowse, Chelsea had a firm grip on the game and Burnley’s only genuine attempts on goal came from outside the box. But fans inside Stamford Bridge groaned and booed, knowing exactly what was going to happen when Fofana was given his marching orders.

It was a pivotal moment in the game. Rosenior felt Chelsea had to shut up shop for the final 17 minutes plus stoppage time and decided to bring off Cole Palmer, who had missed a golden chance to make it 2-0 when sent clear through on goal. The playmaker’s flabbergasted expression said it all, and it changed the atmosphere inside the stadium. On came Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong and Mamadou Sarr to shore up the defensive line, but it was only successful in pushing Chelsea towards their own goal and there was a feeling of déjà vu when Flemming snatched a late equaliser in the 93rd minute.

They had seen it all before under Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and now Rosenior, where needless cautions and mindless red cards had cost them dearly. The west London club have committed an estimated €1.5 billion gross on transfers in four years and employed as many permanent managers, yet they still cannot seem to fix this crippling issue. It is one of many reasons why they haven’t been serious contenders for honours under the current ownership.

Nothing can be taken away from the relegation-threatened visitors, who worked tirelessly in the second half and were well worth a point, and head coach Scott Parker deserves credit from changing the game with his substitutions. Ward-Prowse not only played his part in the sending off but set up the equaliser with a trademark pinpoint delivery from the corner. The experienced midfielder, on loan from Nottingham Forest, flexed his set-piece skills with some threatening balls into the box that actually Burnley should’ve converted for a priceless away victory. Still, they will be very pleased to come away with a point – one more than people would’ve expected before the match.

Rosenior, on the side of the dugout, certainly won’t be. He won’t need telling that Chelsea have dropped 19 points from winning positions this season – and four of those points have slipped away in their last two games at home to Leeds and Burnley, both promoted from the Championship. With all due respect to those clubs, that is simply not good enough if the Blues want to secure qualification for the Champions League next season through their league position.

It cost Maresca vital points this season and the Italian was sacked, albeit with other internal factors in play. Rosenior must find a solution to the issue or continue to suffer damaging blows to their hopes of securing a top-four finish, which could put his job in a similar position of jeopardy.