Gary Neville insists Spurs fans are right to be ‘proud’ of their nine-man team as he blames ‘ill discipline’ and ‘recklessness’ for defeat

• Gary Neville believes Tottenham were let down by ‘ill discipline’ against Chelsea
• Destiny Udogie and Cristian Romero were both sent off in the derby for Spurs
• CHRIS SUTTON: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is a CLOWN – It’s All Kicking Off

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville heaped praise on Tottenham and Chelsea for producing ‘box office’ football in Monday’s fierce London derby.

Chelsea inflicted a first defeat of the season on Ange Postecoglou’s title-challenging Spurs side as a Nicolas Jackson hattrick condemned the hosts to a 4-1 hammering.  

Neville believes Tottenham supporters were let down by ‘ill discipline’ and a ‘lack of composure’ after being reduced to just nine-men but credited the Spurs players who remained on the pitch.

Argentinian defender Romero was shown a straight red card in the first half for a dangerous challenge on Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.

Udogie was next to follow as he was sent walking after being booked for a second reckless challenge on Raheem Sterling after already escaping a red card earlier in the match.

Tottenham had a chance to try and salvage what would have been an astonishing draw at the end of the match when captain Son Heung-min was played through but dragged his shot wide.

Cristian Romero was the first Tottenham player to be sent off in Monday’s defeat against Chelsea

Destiny Udogie was then sent off in the second half after receiving a second yellow card

Dejan Kulusevski initially opened the scoring for Tottenham against Chelsea on Monday

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Chelsea eventually wore Tottenham down with Jackson scoring three times in the final 20 minutes of the match, although Spurs supporters still clapped their players off the pitch after a spirited performance. 

‘It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a team get beat 4-1 and get a standing ovation. It’s a mad, mad night. Crazy from start to finish,’ Neville told Sky Sports.

‘Ange Postecoglou will be proud of the players who stayed on the pitch. It was an exciting, explosive and mad game in the end.’

‘It’s ill discipline from a couple of players. Those fans haven’t been let down by officials, they’ve been let down by a lack of composure, and recklessness from Romero and Udogie. 

‘They can be proud of the ones out there on the pitch and how the manager has set them up with nine-men. 

Gary Neville slammed the Tottenham duo for their red cards against Chelsea in Monday’s derby

Chelsea eventually ran out 4-1 victors in Monday’s London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium

‘Fallen at the end but Chelsea have never felt comfortable in the game until now,’ added Neville.

Spurs sacrificed the chance to jump back to the top of the Premier League standings, with reigning champions Man City now one point clear.

However, injuries also hampered them against Chelsea with James Maddison worryingly being hooked from the match during the first half.

Chelsea and Tottenham played out a high-octane derby full of flare ups and boiling points

Matters were made worse as Micky van de Ven pulled up in a footrace with Nicolas Jackson with initial fears concerning a hamstring issue.

The drama of the match continued up until the final whistle and Carragher described the fixture as one of the most ‘enjoyable games’ he had watched. 

‘I’ve been watching football for almost 40 years and certainly as a neutral, I would say that was one of the most enjoyable games I’ve seen for so many different reasons.

‘It was absolutely box office and that is why the Premier League is the best league in the world by an absolute country mile!,’ he added.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

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