Monday 24 August 2015 13:42, UK
Jamie Redknapp says Thibaut Courtois must shoulder some of the blame for John Terry's red card in Chelsea's win over West Brom.
The Premier League champions earned their first win of the season with a 3-2 victory at The Hawthorns, but the result was tarnished by a straight red for their captain, who was punished for a tug on West Brom striker Salomon Rondon as he burst through on goal.
The Sky Sports panel all agreed referee Mark Clattenburg got the decision correct and Redknapp said Courtois – who was sent off for a professional foul on Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis on the opening day of the season – was out of position.
And he wonders if the goalkeeper is standing deeper because he is trying to avoid a repeat of Charlie Adam's memorable lob from inside his own half for Stoke against Chelsea last season.
"I think Thibaut Courtois has got to look at his position," said Redknapp. "He was going back and forward and doing the hokey cokey.
"I think that's almost a consequence of his confidence. I think back to the Swansea game and his confidence when he was too deep. He should have been on the edge of the box controlling the situation.
"Maybe, just maybe, he was thinking about Charlie Adam and getting lobbed last season. That is a man who is not decisive. One minute he steps back and then goes forward. You want your goalkeeper in control and I think his position should be on the edge of the box.
"You've especially got to know your players. When it's John Terry in a straight race with Rondon he's in trouble.
"If that was Kurt Zouma you could let him take control of the situation, but because it's John – and maybe the lack of pace he has – I think Courtois has got to be five or six yards higher up and come and clear that away."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho refused to comment on the incident when interviewed by Sky Sports after the match,
But Sky Sports expert Niall Quinn feels the Chelsea boss can have no complaints, insisting Terry was the last man and denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity for Rondon.
He said: "It was 100 per cent right and Mark Clattenburg deserves great credit for spotting that and for being up with the play.
"Brunt played a wonderful ball right into the danger area, whips it in behind Zouma and John was in trouble a yard behind and reached out to pull Rondon just as he was getting onto it.
"It was not a lot of contact, but enough in Clattenburg's view to stop the player being able to control the ball and have a chance at goal. He's got to send him off."
