(Video): Brainless Jackson may just have blown Champions League chances with insane decision | OneFootball

It’s gone from bad to worse at St James’ Park.

Chelsea needed to not concede early. They did. Then they needed to keep their head. They didn’t.

Nicolas Jackson has just been sent off for an elbow to the face of Sven Botman.

The striker chased a long punt up the pitch, and turned his head to see the defender waiting for him. Jackson then put up his arm and let his arm crash into his opponent’s neck.

It was more of a forearm to the neck than an elbow to the face, but it’s still a red, and the look he gives as he approaches has him banged to rights guilty. He can have no complaints. Why on earth risk something like that on a hopeless long ball?

This Chelsea team have had a habit habit of indiscipline, both under Mauricio Pochettino last season and Enzo Maresca this season. Jackson has been a consistent offender, picking up cards for no good reason. The excuse is always made for them that they’re so young and inexperienced – but at some point we have to recognise that that can’t go on forever.

You can see the incident in the clip embedded here:

[Footage from TNT Sport]

[Footage from NBC Sport]

Jackson red means more than just one bad result

The forearm smash which saw Nicolas Jackson sent off.

Even worse, Jackson will now not be available for the rest of the season. Once again, we look back at the decision to not sign a striker last summer as a catastrophically short sighted one.

Between Jackson’s injury in the spring and these final games, that ill-advised attempt to save some money now looks very likely to cost us a lot more than it saved if we miss out on the top 5 and the Champions League.