Sunderland beat Chelsea 1-0 with controversial penalty

Summarised from 8 outlets · 15 reports · Updated 8 Nov, 18:00 · Archive

Sunderland defeated Chelsea 1-0 at home with a penalty from Enzo Le Fee, lifting themselves off the bottom of the Premier League table.

Sunderland defeated Chelsea 1-0 at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, with Enzo Le Fee scoring from the penalty spot in the first half to lift the hosts off the bottom of the Premier League table.

The penalty was awarded in the 36th minute after Levi Colwill was judged to have fouled Brian Brobbey as the striker drove into the box. However, the decision proved controversial. Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders told Sky Sports: 'For me it wasn't a penalty. He barely touched him, I think it was the other way round. He grabbed him.' Colwill was withdrawn at half-time.

The penalty award came just minutes after Chelsea were denied their own spot-kick appeal. Cole Palmer had dribbled towards the Sunderland box and gone down under a challenge from Luke O'Nien, but referee Jarred Gillett waved play on. VAR official Nick Hopton confirmed that any contact between O'Nien and Palmer had occurred outside the penalty area, with Palmer's momentum carrying him into the box after being brought down.

Chelsea dominated possession in the match but struggled to create high-quality opportunities. Morgan Rogers headed wide in the first half, whilst their only chance of note in the second came when Danny Welbeck missed in injury time. Sunderland's defence, depleted by injuries to Dan Ballard and a ban for Omar Alderete, held firm throughout.

Xabi Alonso's Chelsea were subdued and created few clear chances. Speaking after the match, Alonso declined to blame the officials, instead saying his team needed to improve. 'Nothing to comment on the referee,' he told the BBC. 'It is something that is our fault. We could have done better.' He praised Brobbey's performance but added that his defenders 'could have done better' against the Dutch striker.

The defeat left Chelsea fifth in the table and out of the top four, representing their fourth league loss of the season. For Sunderland, the win ended a difficult run of form. They had taken just one point in nine previous games and were rooted to the bottom of the table before Sunday. Manager Régis Le Bris made eight changes from Thursday's Europa League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, with only captain Granit Xhaka, Thomas Meunier and goalkeeper Robin Roefs surviving from that side, though Xhaka was injured and withdrawn after less than three minutes.

How it is being reported

• 'Tinkerman' Alonso's Chelsea side still searching for identityXabi Alonso's frustration is evident as Chelsea's struggles for an identity continue with the disappointing 1-0 defeat by Sunderland.BBC Sport · 8 Nov, 18:20
• Xabi Alonso takes aim at his Chelsea players after shock Sunderland defeatXabi Alonso watched his Chelsea team fall to defeat at the Stadium of Light (Picture: Getty Images) Xabi Alonso was not looking for excuses after his Chelsea side was beaten 1-0 at Sunderland , admitting they did not defend or attack well enough. The Black Cats were bottom of the Premier League…Metro · 8 Nov, 17:44
• Xabi Alonso disagrees with Chelsea player over controversial penalty decisionLevil Colwill was penalised for a foul on Brian Brobbey and then hauled off at half-tiemEvening Standard · 8 Nov, 17:24
• Sunderland hold out to beat Chelsea and edge away from rock bottomSunderland hold out to beat Chelsea and edge away from rock bottomThe Telegraph · 8 Nov, 16:21
• Xabi Alonso must look at HIMSELF, not the officials, as another questionable line-up sees Chelsea fold at Sunderland - and Cole Palmer has a stinker in miserable response to Tuchel snub, writes KIERAN GILLKIERAN GILL: Not for the first time this season, Alonso's starting line-up was questionable. Granted, it hardly helped that Chelsea's attackers never appeared at it.Daily Mail Sport · 8 Nov, 16:20
• Sunderland stun Chelsea as Le Fée’s penalty breathes life into Black CatsA lot can change in five-and-half months, but as an early winter chill descended on Wearside this week – both meteorologically and metaphorically – Sunderland were determined that some things should remain the same. Just as they had beaten Chelsea on the final day of last season in May to ensure European qualification for the first time in 53 years, they did so again on Sunday to lift themselves off the bottom of the Premier League. The real triumph was that a patched-up defence, without the injured Dan Ballard and the banned Omar Alderete, kept Chelsea at enough distance to allow Robin…The Guardian · 8 Nov, 16:16
• Brobbey wins Colwill battle - player ratings for Sunderland's win over ChelseaEnzo Le Fee's penalty is the difference as Sunderland climb off the bottom of the table but how did the players rate against Chelsea?BBC Sport · 8 Nov, 16:13
• Chelsea player ratings vs Sunderland: 4/10 defender hauled off in crushing lossA difficult afternoon on Wearside for Chelsea’s attacking trioEvening Standard · 8 Nov, 16:11
• Breaking down the two controversial penalty incidents in Sunderland v ChelseaEnzo Le Fee scored the winner from the spot after Cole Palmer was denied at the other endIndependent Sport · 8 Nov, 16:01
• Sunderland 1-0 Chelsea: Blues pay the penalty as Enzo Le Fee lifts Black Cats off foot of Premier League tableBlues lose third successive game against SunderlandEvening Standard · 8 Nov, 16:01
• Tepid Chelsea beaten by Sunderland who move off bottomChelsea put in a tepid performance as Sunderland lifted themselves off the bottom of the Premier League table with a 1-0 win that eases the pressure on under-fire manager Regis Le Bris.Sky Sports · 8 Nov, 16:00
• Why Josh Acheampong is missing from Chelsea squad against Sunderland today as Emi Martinez update issuedChelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper is also not involved at the Stadium of LightEvening Standard · 8 Nov, 13:53
• Xabi Alonso reveals why Chelsea star didn’t make squad for Sunderland clashXabi Alonso takes his Chelsea team to Sunderland on Sunday afternoon (Picture: REUTERS) Chelsea travel to take on Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday and Josh Acheampong is a surprise omission from Xabi Alonso ’s squad. The 20-year-old has been a regular in the Blues team this season under…Metro · 8 Nov, 13:42
• Chelsea XI vs Sunderland: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League todayXabi Alonso drops Estevao for Stadium of Light clashEvening Standard · 8 Nov, 12:54
• Is Moises Caicedo injured? Chelsea midfielder drops major team news hint after training updateEncouraging signs for Chelsea supporters ahead of the Premier League clash against SunderlandEvening Standard · 8 Nov, 09:26

In this story: Sunderland · Chelsea · Enzo Le Fee · Levi Colwill · Brian Brobbey · Cole Palmer · Xabi Alonso · Stadium of Light

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