Malo Gusto received the first direct red card of his career as Chelsea lost 1-0 to Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday.
The young French right-back has been deputising for Reece James who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Gusto was making his fifth consecutive league start in the blue shirt but luck did not smile on him in the 58th minute when he was initially given a yellow card for a tackle on Lucas Digne but after further review by VAR was upgraded to a red card for dangerous play.
Gusto’s red card was very much of an advantage to Aston Villa as Ollie Watkins gave the Villains the lead and only goal of the game in the 73rd minute.
At 20 years, 128 days of age, Gusto became the third youngest Chelsea player to be sent off in the Premier League after John Obi Mikel (19 years, 175 days) and Robert Huth (19 years, 264 days). Mikel received his red card in a 1-0 win over Reading and was the only red card he received in the English top-flight where he played a total of 362 times over a 10-year period and won the league twice.
20 – Malo Gusto, aged 20 years and 128 days, is the third-youngest Chelsea player to receive a Premier League red card, older only than Jon Obi Mikel vs Reading in 2006 (19y 175d) and Robert Huth vs Man Utd in 2004 (19y 264d). Ousted. pic.twitter.com/Ae936wKNbb
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 24, 2023
Chelsea will have to do without Gusto for their next three matches. They will also have to do without Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson for one match after he picked up his fifth yellow card in his sixth game this season.
The defeat leaves Mauricio Pochettino’s men in 14th place on the table, four points shy of the relegation zone.
