Bridge battle 5-2 for red card as rivals clash
TWELVE players were booked in the last meeting between Chelsea and Tottenham which finished with bad blood between the London rivals and it’s 5-2 with bet365 and Hills that a red card is brandished at Stamford Bridge.
Calm referee Michael Oliver is the man charged with bringing order to proceedings following the tempestuous clash in May that finished 2-2 in goals and 9-3 to Tottenham in bookings.
Both clubs were fined for failing to control their players, Mousa Dembele was hit with a six-match ban for an eye-gouging incident involving Diego Costa and Spurs players took turns to launch flying tackles on Cesc Fabregas.
Tottenham’s suspended left-back Danny Rose admitted some Spurs players were in tears in the Stamford Bridge dressing-room after their Premier League dreams were left in tatters and he also said it was the first match he looked for when the fixture list was announced for this season.
He is unlikely to be the only Spurs player fired up for this rematch, although favourite for the first card is a Spurs summer signing Victor Wanyama at 15-2 with Sky Bet and Betfair.
Eric Dier, one of those who definitely lost his head in the last meeting, is rated a 10-1 shot for the opening card alongside Costa.
It’s 10-11 with bet365 that six or more cards are dished out by Oliver, while Betway are 8-11 over 55 bookings points in a market that awards ten points per yellow card and 25 for each red.
Ladbrokes are 16-1 that one of Antonio Conte or Mauricio Pochettino is dismissed with both managers set to play their part in keeping a lid on the emotions.
However, the result is of most importance and league leaders Chelsea are 13-5 to claim the title with unbeaten Spurs at 18-1.
