Joe Cole insists Wilfred Ndidi should have been sent off for 'terrible tackle'

Joe Cole has insisted Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi should have been sent off for his 'terrible tackle' on Chelsea's Cole Palmer.

Nicolas Jackson's smart finish after 15 minutes opened the scoring at the King Power Stadium in a dominant first half for the Blues on Enzo Maresca's return to the Foxes.

However, Palmer was left in agony eight minutes later after a high tackle from Ndidi caught his achilles.

The Nigerian midfielder was cautioned with a yellow card, but Cole insists he was lucky to remain on the pitch.

The former Blues midfielder said on TNT Sports: 'That tackle, he could hurt him there. If VAR is ever going to step in for reckless dendagrement of a player. It's a terrible tackle.

'This is a game Leicester where they were miles off it Leicester and at the height of their frustration. He's lost his rag, he should be sent off. He nearly scores the equaliser. If he plays a part in getting Leicester back in the game i'd imagine Enzo Maresca will be furious.'

Peter Crouch added: 'I agree with joe. It's dangerous. That could snatch his achilles and that's something we stamp out of the game.'

Meanwhile, Chelsea fans fumed on social media as they also questioned the decision to not send off Ndidi.

One said: 'Surely a red? That's an Achilles destroying challenge from Ndidi'.

'Surely that has to be a red for Ndidi. That challenge can so easily put a player out for 6 months,' a second Blues fan posted on X.

A third added: 'How in the world is that not a red card for Ndidi? Disgusting challenge, but then again what do we expect from Premier League refs anyway?'

Chelsea continued their dominance in the second-half and eventually doubled their lead thanks to a close-range header by Enzo Fernandez in the 75th minute.