Tottenham Hotspur have been told they were lucky not to also be reduced to 10 men in their 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

A controversial second-half incident on 71 minutes in West London led to a major scuffle between the two teams. After being fouled by Mateus Fernandes, Cole Palmer reacted aggressively to the Tottenham star.

Things are heating up at the Bridge as Cole Palmer and Mateus Fernandes both receive a yellow! 🟨 https://t.co/hYXFl6xlZi

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 24, 2026

Palmer connected with his hip on Fernandes’ face, pushing the Portuguese star back to the floor, but referee Chris Kavanagh only gave a yellow card to the Chelsea man for the incident.

However, Palmer would eventually pick up a second yellow card just nine minutes later after mistiming his defensive intervention and stepping onto the ankle of Conor Gallagher.

Dermot Gallagher says Tottenham captain Micky van de Ven did not commit a red card offence

All the controversial decisions in the London derby were analysed in Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, including what happened just preceding Palmer’s first yellow.

Replays showed that Micky van de Ven threw himself into a full-blooded sliding tackle on Moises Caicedo, who was forced to hurdle the Dutchman’s raised leg before the ball broke into the path of Palmer.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said the incident was not deserving of a red card, and he added that Kavanagh did well to show the Spurs captain a yellow card.

Gallagher said about Van de Ven’s tackle: “I don’t think it’s a red card. I think you have to be very, very careful what you start chucking red cards about for.

“The best thing to do with that kind of tackle is blow your whistle and stop it. If you blow your whistle there and stop it, yellow card him, the rest goes away.”

Tim Sherwood says Van de Ven was lucky to stay on the pitch

Former Tottenham midfielder and interim manager Tim Sherwood concurred that it was not a red card offence, but only because of Caicedo taking evasive action.

The pundit suggested that the challenge was a potential leg-breaker and not the first time Van de Ven has put in such a reckless tackle. He suggested that Roberto De Zerbi needed to warn the Dutchman about his tackling.

Sherwood said about Van de Ven’s challenge: “That was naughty. (Caicedo’s) hurdle does a favour for him. If (Caicedo) does not jump, he breaks his leg. He is flying in there, and Micky has history with these, he has to be careful.

“His most famous one was (the tackle which broke Alexander Isak’s leg) when he comes through and just takes everything out. Referees don’t see these. It is reckless. He has to be careful with that.”

Pressed as to whether he felt the 25-year-old warranted a booking, he added: “No. Because (Caicedo) did jump. (Van de Ven is) reckless. He’s got to be careful. If I’m the manager, I’m saying, ‘Micky, be careful’. There’s no need to go flying in, he’s not in control of his body there.”