Cole Palmer and Brian Brobbey were at the centre of very different penalty controversies during Chelsea's Premier League clash against Chelsea

Chelsea have been told it was correct to not award a penalty for a foul on Cole Palmer against Sunderland with the contact coming outside of the box. That controversial incident took place in the 24th minute and just a quarter of an hour later, Sunderland were awarded a penalty for a foul on Brian Brobbey by Levi Colwill.

The Chelsea defender was adamant he was being pulled but the decision stood and Enzo Le Fee scored the resulting spot-kick - the only goal of the game. Xabi Alonso was far from pleased at how things played out at the Stadium of Light, with Palmer also annoyed.

The first incident arrived when the Blues star broke into a threatening position and was brought down by a combination of Noad Sadiki and Luke O'Nien, but his appeals were waved away.

Palmer wanted a penalty but referee Jarred Gillett did not blow his whistle, with the incident subsequently checked by VAR. Replays showed that Palmer was impeded but it looked as though the majority of the contact came outside of the penalty area and therefore the game continued.

The Premier League Match Centre on X later confirmed that was the reason for Chelsea not getting a penalty. Their social media post read: "The referee’s call of no penalty to Chelsea was checked and confirmed by VAR. VAR: 'Confirming the on-field decision of play on, any contact with Palmer occurs outside the penalty area.'

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Had the foul taken place on or beyond the white line, a penalty was the most likely outcome with Chris Sutton suggesting as such on Sky Sports.

He said: "I'm not so sure there's a touch on the ball from the challenging Sunderland defenders. Palmer is screaming for a foul. But he's hard done by there, Palmer. It's a foul isn't it?"

Sutton analysed the Brobbey incident a little differently, but eventually accepted that there was an infringement by Colwill which caused the Sunderland striker to hit the deck.

He said: "Maybe it's six of one, half a dozen for the other in terms of the holding, but Colwill clips him. Xabi Alonso's not happy but Brobbey warned his team. Colwill has been bullied by Brobbey. Sunderland deservedly in front."

The clash remained on a knife edge during the second half with Thomas Meunier, Brobbey and Pedro Neto all booked. That trio joined Colwill and Jules Ahoka on bookings picked up in the first half.

Estevao, who replaced Colwill at half-time, had a great chance to equalise but couldn't get his shot away after being played through by Morgan Rogers.

The best opportunity of the second 45 actually fell Sunderland's way with Wilson Isidor denied from close range by Mike Penders.