- Bournemouth and Chelsea players were handed a PL record 14 yellow cards
- Anthony Taylor clamped down on dissent while Palmer was continually fouled
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Bournemouth and Chelsea set an unwanted Premier League record in their Saturday night clash as their players hoovered up 14 yellow cards between them.
The hosts were hit for six while Chelsea were handed eight bookings on a bad-tempered night at the Vitality Stadium.
Christopher Nkunku came off the bench to seal a 1-0 win, with Jadon Sancho providing the assist on his Blues debut – not that he escaped Anthony Taylor’s naughty step.
Taylor came down hard on dissent in the game, with managers Andoni Iraola and Enzo Maresca also shown yellow cards.
Cole Palmer was a continual target for fouls, with Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook reprimanded for their roughness with the 22-year-old.
Bournemouth and Chelsea’s stars were booked a Premier League record 14 times on Saturday
Robert Sanchez was carded for an ugly challenge on Bournemouth striker Evanilson, giving away a penalty
Anthony Taylor clamped down on dissent and a yellow was a blot on Jadon Sancho’s debut
Christopher Nkunku came off the bench to score the only goal and seal a win for Enzo Maresca
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was shown the most memorable yellow of the game after rushing out and clattering into striker Evanilson to give away a penalty.
Sanchez had been sold short after a shoddy back pass from Wesley Fofana and it was a stonewall penalty as he brought down the striker, but he redeemed himself by saving the spot-kick.
The previous record of 13 yellow cards was set last September when Tottenham beat Sheffield United 2-1 at home, when Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski both scored in stoppage time to win, having trailed with 98 minutes on the clock.
Blues substitute Joao Felix dragged down Alex Scott in the middle of the park to gain the 13th of this game, and Antoine Semenyo was handed the record-breaking 14th to scratch this match in the history books.
On a positive note for Maresca’s side, they ended their run of 17 away games in a row without a clean sheet, despite conceding many chances to the Cherries.
Sanchez had to make seven saves to deny the south coast side and he was rewarded with a huge embrace from his manager at full time.
The victory moves Chelsea up to seventh in the Premier League while Bournemouth, who gave a good account of themselves but were ultimately unclinical, slip to 11th after their first defeat of the campaign.
