EPL: Potter speaks as Silva escapes red card during win vs Crystal Palace

Chelsea manager, Graham Potter, in a post-match statement has admitted he understood how Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira’s felt after watching defender Thiago Silva escape a red card for deliberate handball during their weekend clash in the EPL.

Potter, who led the Blues to his first EPL game as their coach won all three points as his team defeated Crystal Palace 2-1.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Conor Gallagher scored the needed goals for the Blues against the Eagles at Selhurst Park Stadium.

One of the highlights during the match was a pivotal incident which took place after the half-hour when Silva slipped under pressure from Jordan Ayew and, in an attempt to stop the Crystal Palace forward from advancing on goal, the Brazil defender palmed the ball away from danger.

While many expected a red card to be handed to Silva, referee Chris Kavanagh chose to hand out a yellow card instead as the VAR gave the impression that no clear and obvious error had been committed, decided not to intervene.

“I thought it was touch and go,” Potter confessed at his post-match press conference.

“The fact he was quite far from the goal saved him, and it could’ve gone the other way.

“It’s a close one, I can understand Patrick’s [Vieira] frustration. It’s a 50-50 one.”