Xabi Alonso said he will speak with Cole Palmer after he was shown two yellow cards in less than 10 minutes during Chelsea’s derby defeat by Tottenham.

The Blues star was booked first for a clash with Mateus Fernandes, before quickly being sent off after a stamp on Conor Gallagher.

His dismissal was a huge blow for Chelsea, who were already trailing after Mike Penders’ own goal on his first Premier League start and eventually lost 2-0 after Mathys Tel’s fine solo effort.

Chelsea’s disciplinary issues are long-standing and were a defining characteristic of a dismal league campaign last season, and Alonso has promised to sit down with Palmer to discuss the incidents.

Losing his cool: Cole Palmer was sent off as Chelsea lost to Tottenham at Stamford Bridge

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Asked whether he felt the referee had made the right decision to send off Palmer, Alonso said: “Absolutely. I've not seen it but I've been told it's right.

“We think [up until] now we haven't received any red cards (this season) and we need to continue that way because we need to have this maturity to deal with difficult moments.

“When you have conceded 1-0, still probably there was 15-20 minutes to go, so we have to be on the way.

“I need to check the action to talk with Cole but it is one to learn for the future for sure.”

Alonso echoed the words of many of his Chelsea managerial predecessors as he called on his squad to sort out their ill-discipline.

“We need to work and we need to improve on that,” he said.

“I think we spoke (on Friday) about those things, and to know that in those situations that one first yellow card can be decisive. As we have seen, it is a process of the maturity of the team and of the individual players as well.”

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi said he felt that Palmer should have been shown a straight red card for slamming into Fernandes, while Gary Neville believed that Morgan Rogers should also have been dismissed for a frustrated late foul on Gallagher.

Many argued that Rogers could have been sent off against Everton last weekend for his strong challenge on James Garner while already on a yellow, while Palmer picked up a caution for dissent in that game and was perhaps fortunate to avoid a second booking for a foul late on.

Palmer, who signed a new long-term contract at Chelsea earlier this month, will now be suspended for the high-profile Carabao Cup last-16 clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night, which is followed quickly by a visit from struggling Manchester United next weekend.