EPL: Potter makes confession as Silva escapes red card during Chelsea’s win over Crystal Palace

Chelsea boss, Graham Potter, has admitted he understood Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira’s frustration after watching defender Thiago Silva escape a red card for deliberate handball during both sides’ Premier League tie on Saturday.

Potter was able to celebrate his first win in charge of Chelsea as his team defeated Crystal Palace 2-1.

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

However, during the encounter, a pivotal incident occurred just after the half-hour mark when Silva slipped under pressure from Jordan Ayew and, in a desperate attempt to prevent the Crystal Palace forward from advancing on goal, the Brazilian palmed the ball away from danger.

Referee Chris Kavanagh decided to hand out a yellow card and, with the VAR under 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.”