Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge after Palmer's red card

A red card and an own goal decide the derby

Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 24 October. Mike Penders put the ball into his own net early, punching a corner on his first Premier League start in place of the injured Emi Martinez, and Mathys Tel finished a solo run in the 87th minute. Chelsea were already a goal down when Cole Palmer was sent off after 80 minutes for a second yellow card, a late challenge that caught Conor Gallagher on the ankle. Palmer's first booking had come about nine minutes earlier, after he barged into Mateus Fernandes while the Spurs midfielder lay on the turf, and Fernandes was also cautioned. Sources disagree on when Tottenham last won at Stamford Bridge, with 2016 and 2018 both given, while one report called this their first win there in eight years.

Alonso on discipline

Xabi Alonso said he agreed with the referee's decision to send Palmer off, although he had not seen the incident and had been told it was correct. He took the Chelsea job in the summer with the club's disciplinary record a clear target, and The Independent noted that Chelsea received eight red cards last season, four more than the next highest Premier League side. Alonso said Chelsea had not received a red card this season before Saturday and that the squad needed to keep that record. He added that a single first yellow card can prove decisive, and he said he would speak with Palmer about the incidents. Palmer will miss the Carabao Cup last-16 tie at Anfield on Wednesday 28 October.

I need to check the action to talk with Cole but it is one to learn for the future for sure.

Penders and the Chelsea attack

Penders, 21, is rated highly at Chelsea and in Belgium, where he has been compared to Thibaut Courtois. After the own goal, Alonso publicly backed him and the rest of the squad.

We win, we lose together and it is part of the job to deal with and to overcome from mistakes, myself as well and everyone.

Chelsea also had to do without João Pedro, their top scorer, who picked up a build-up of fluid in training on Friday 23 October. Alonso said the club would wait for a scan on Sunday 25 October before knowing the seriousness of the injury. He started Morgan Rogers as a false nine with Geovany Quenda in attack, instead of Danny Welbeck or Estevao, and Chelsea looked sluggish in front of goal. Pep Chavarria, Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emegha were also unavailable.

Spurs and Maddison's knock

Roberto De Zerbi said Spurs had changed their mentality after a candid team meeting held before their 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Spurs have taken seven points from their last three games and climbed to 12th in the table. De Zerbi also said he trusted young players Archie Gray, Mateus Fernandes and Mathys Tel, and he praised Fernandes for his personality on the ball. James Maddison, making only his second start of the season, went down without a challenge and was forced off on 51 minutes, replaced by Conor Gallagher. Maddison had scored against Coventry City on Monday 19 October, his first goal since May 2025.

I hope it's not a big problem because he's a special player for us.

De Zerbi said medical checks on Maddison were scheduled for Sunday 25 October. Maddison had earlier sustained a shoulder fracture after appearing for Spurs against Brentford.

What comes next

Palmer's suspension rules him out of the Liverpool tie at Anfield on Wednesday 28 October, a match in which Penders will be Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper while Martinez is sidelined for several weeks. A home match against Manchester United follows, though the sources give no date for it. Chelsea will learn on Sunday 25 October how long João Pedro is likely to be out after his scan. Spurs sit 12th in the table after the win.