Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson has reportedly been left 'very upset' over his red card against Newcastle United.
The Blues went into a potentially-pivotal Premier League fixture at St James' Park sitting level on points with the Magpies in the table.
However, it was a day to forget for Enzo Maresca's side as Sandro Tonali's early goal and a late long-range Bruno Guimaraes strike earned Newcastle a 2-0 victory.
Jackson's dismissal in the first half was the main talking point, the Senegal international dismissed for making contact with Sven Botman with a stray forearm.
Although the referee initially cautioned Jackson, VAR advised him to upgrade the punishment to a red card, a decision that felt justified at the time.
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Nicolas Jackson is shown a red card for his foul on Sven Botman 🟥
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Who is Jackson upset with?
After the game, Maresca appeared to suggest that the St James' Park atmosphere had contributed to Jackson being sent off.
According to journalist Rahman Osman, who was commenting on X, Jackson has been left 'very upset with himself' after the incident.
The report suggests that the 23-year-old has accepted the decision to hand him a red card, describing his attempt to challenge for the ball with Botman as "regrettable".
Osman adds that Jackson's intention was to try to ensure that the Chelsea forward line was not being bullied by Newcastle's defenders. At the time, the visitors had barely laid a glove on their hosts.
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A crossroads moment for Jackson?
Although Jackson will still be available for the Conference League final against Real Betis on May 28, he will miss the crucial Premier League encounters with Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.
With this moment adding to Jackson scoring just once in the Premier League since the middle of December, some Chelsea supporters have lost patience with him.
Generally-speaking, chipping in with 10 strikes and five assists in 30 top-flight outings during 2024-25 is a respectable return, but the recent drought has not helped his cause to hold down a permanent spot down the middle of the attack.
Unless he can help Chelsea to victory in the Conference League final, the majority of Chelsea's fanbase will not want him to remain as first choice at the start of 2025-26.
Darren Plant
