Nicolas Jackson leaves Chelsea fans furious after reckless elbow on Sven Botman leads to red card at St James’ Park

Nicolas Jackson leaves Chelsea fans furious after reckless elbow on Sven Botman leads to red card at St James’ Park

What was already shaping up to be a tense and high-stakes evening for Chelsea fans turned sour even quicker than expected.

Not only did the team fall behind early at St. James’ Park, but frustration hit a boiling point when Nicolas Jackson made a decision that left supporters stunned—and furious.

A Reckless Moment Costs Chelsea Dearly

The 35th minute marked the turning point. Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson was first shown a yellow card after elbowing Newcastle defender Sven Botman during a heated exchange.

But the situation escalated swiftly.

Following a review from VAR, referee John Brooks upgraded the yellow to a straight red.

The elbow was deemed intentional and dangerous—a moment of madness that couldn’t be ignored.

Blues Already Behind Before the Blow

To make matters worse, the red card came while Chelsea were already trailing.

Sandro Tonali had put Newcastle in front just two minutes into the match, sending the home crowd into early celebration.

The Blues were looking to fight back and keep their top-five hopes alive, but Jackson’s dismissal made that challenge far steeper.

Fans Lash Out at Jackson’s Costly Mistake

Chelsea supporters wasted no time in voicing their outrage on social media.

Given how much was riding on this game, emotions ran high.

One frustrated fan called it a “horrendous elbow”, while another slammed Jackson’s behavior, saying: “Pathetic from him. What in the world is he doing?”

Another post didn’t hold back at all: “If Jackson ever plays for Chelsea again, we’ve failed as a club. What he’s cost us long term should never be forgotten.”

Pundits Agree—The Red Was Deserved

Former Chelsea player Joe Cole, now working as a pundit, didn’t sugarcoat his opinion either.

Speaking on TNT Sports, he said Jackson gave the referee “no choice.”

“He has a look, forearm smash in his face. It’s a silly thing to do,” Cole said.

“No, he can’t have any complaints.”

Peter Crouch, also analyzing the match, echoed that sentiment, noting that the intent was clear: “The two looks give the game away. It’s a definite red card.”

Jackson Now Faces Suspension at a Crucial Time

To make matters worse for Chelsea, Jackson’s red card means he’ll be out for the final two games of the Premier League season.

That includes a showdown against Manchester United next Friday and a trip to face Nottingham Forest the following week.

For a club still chasing European football, losing a starting striker at such a pivotal moment could be a major blow—not just tactically, but psychologically too.

Chelsea’s Top Five Hopes Now in Jeopardy

With two matches left and so much still at stake, this red card could be remembered as the moment Chelsea’s momentum cracked.

Fans will now be watching closely to see if the team can rally without Jackson—or if this slip proves too much to recover from.