The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Judith Benjamin
Nicolas Jackson had to be pulled away from a heated confrontation with several Everton players, as tensions boiled over following Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to the Toffees at Goodison Park on Sunday.
After the full-time whistle sounded, Jackson confronted several Everton players, including, Nathan Patterson and Amadou Onana, with the Chelsea striker going head-to-head with Patterson, in a heated end to the match.
According to Nizaar Kinsella of the Evening Standard: ‘Nicolas Jackson had to be pulled away from some kind of confrontation after the match. Pochettino pulling him away and then one of his assistants dragging him down the tunnel, protecting him from a red card.’
While it was unclear what caused the altercation, the 22-year-old, who arrived at Stamford Bridge earlier this summer for £32million, was surrounded by the Everton team before he was quickly ushered away from the mele by the Blues manager before he was seen walking towards the tunnel.
The Senegal international has scored six goals in 15 Premier League appearances this season, but has also been given seven yellow cards and has already been given a one-match suspension for amassing five bookings in Chelsea’s first six Premier league games this season.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson had to be pulled away from a heated confrontation after their 2-0 defeat to Everton by Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino
Jackson came on as a substitute in the second half but clashed with Everton defender Nathan Patterson at full-time
In recent weeks, Pochettino has also urged his side to cut out ‘silly’ yellow cards, admitting he has shown his side video replays of some of the fouls they have conceded in training.
It was ultimately a frustrating day for Chelsea with Doucoure and rising star Lewis Dobbin both scoring in the second-half for the Toffees, despite Chelsea having 16 attempts on goal during the match.
Things were made worse for the London side after Reece James suffered a soft tissue injury in the first half and was substituted for Levi Colwill after 27 minutes. The Argentine admitted after the game that it was a hamstring injury but the severity of the issue was not yet known.
‘We didn’t score,’ the Chelsea boss said in his analysis of the match. ‘If you don’t score goals it is difficult to win games.
‘Today we showed lack of productivity in the last third. Too many approaches. Lack of concentration we concede one goals but we should score before.’
Everton’s Amadou Onana pushes Jackson away as tensions boiled over between the players
The Blues striker was ultimately pulled away by Pochettino and was escorted down the tunnel by another member of the Chelsea staff
It means the Blues have now suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier league, having suffered a 2-1 loss to Manchester United last time out.
Pochettino’s side have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight matches, and the Chelsea boss stressed the importance of preventing other sides from scoring.
‘It is everything, it’s not easy to say that is the problem. There are 11 players on the pitch that need to perform,’ he said after the match.
‘The problem is why we arrive in this situation, it is difficult to explain. We know why we are dealing with this. Newcastle lose 3-0 and Everton was much better and credit for Everton but today I think we were better than Everton and we feel disappointed and frustrated.’
