{"id":229723,"date":"2026-02-21T20:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T20:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/21\/red-card-drama-costs-top-four-contenders-veteran-breaks-incredible-pl-record-wrap\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T20:06:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T20:06:00","slug":"red-card-drama-costs-top-four-contenders-veteran-breaks-incredible-pl-record-wrap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/21\/red-card-drama-costs-top-four-contenders-veteran-breaks-incredible-pl-record-wrap\/","title":{"rendered":"Red card drama \u2018costs\u2019 top four contenders; veteran breaks incredible PL record – Wrap"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Burnley dented Chelsea\u2019s chances of Champions League qualification by snatching a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, while Aston Villa also struck late to salvage a point against Leeds on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Blues climb into the Premier League\u2019s top four only on goal difference after they paid for failing to build on Joao Pedro\u2019s fourth-minute opener.<\/p>\n

\ufeffGet all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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Chelsea were dominant until Wesley Fofana was sent off with 18 minutes remaining for a second yellow card.<\/p>\n

Burnley took full advantage as Zian Flemming headed in from a corner in the 93rd minute to boost their battle to beat the drop.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not enough clean sheets and not enough basic values of defending set-pieces. That is something I have to address,\u201d said Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were players on the pitch who were assigned to do their job and who didn\u2019t do their job. That is what cost us the two points.\u201d The Clarets are still eight points from safety in their daunting fight for survival.<\/p>\n

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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Wesley Fofana of Chelsea is shown a red card by match referee Lewis Smith during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge on February 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jasper Wax\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

– Milner sets appearance record –<\/b><\/p>\n

Villa defied the odds to keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race until recent weeks, but a 1-1 draw continued their poor run at Villa Park.<\/p>\n

Anton Stach\u2019s spectacular free-kick from fully 40 yards (37 metres) at an angle caught out Emi Martinez at his near post to give Leeds the advantage.<\/p>\n

Daniel Farke\u2019s men have lost just twice in their last 16 games to relieve their fears of being dragged into a battle for survival.<\/p>\n

But Tammy Abraham then snatched a point for Villa two minutes from time. Five Premier League sides are set to qualify for next season\u2019s Champions League thanks to the strong performance of English sides in European competition this season.<\/p>\n

But Liverpool and Manchester United have the chance to close in when they face Nottingham Forest and Everton in the coming days.<\/p>\n

James Milner set a new record of 654 Premier League appearances in Brighton\u2019s 2-0 win at Brentford.<\/p>\n

The 40-year-old started for the Seagulls as they secured a first win in seven games to ease the pressure on boss Fabian Hurzeler.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the drive and hunger. You want to be the best every day whether it\u2019s game or training,\u201d said Milner on the secret to his longevity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m surrounded by a lot of young lads, I want to contribute to their careers, push them and help them get to the highest level as quick as possible. That\u2019s what I\u2019m here to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adamant his ability is still as valuable as his experience, Milner said: \u201cI\u2019ve been a bit frustrated this year, maybe not getting the minutes, but it\u2019s a fine balance because of course we have to develop players as well and we want to win.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully I\u2019ve proved the last few games that I can still contribute on the pitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m delighted to be part of it and the dressing room, it\u2019s full of incredible characters and very good players, and a good up and coming manager.\u201d<\/p>\n

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BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Lewis Dunk (R) and Danny Welbeck of Brighton &amp; Hove Albion (L) gather around teammate James Milner to celebrate him breaking the Premier League appearance record following the team’s victory in the Premier League match between Brentford and Brighton &amp; Hove Albion at Gtech Community Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Luke Hales\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Diego Gomez drilled in the opening goal for the visitors after Ferdi Kadioglu\u2019s stunning strike came back off the bar.<\/p>\n

Danny Welbeck then pounced on some slack Brentford defending to double Brighton\u2019s lead just before half-time.<\/p>\n

Third-bottom West Ham missed a chance to boost their survival bid after a dour 0-0 draw with Bournemouth at the London Stadium.<\/p>\n

The Hammers are two points behind fourth-bottom Forest, who host Liverpool on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Manchester City can close to within two points of leaders Arsenal when they host Newcastle in Saturday\u2019s 2000 GMT kick-off.<\/p>\n

The Gunners have breathed new life into City\u2019s title challenge with disappointing draws at Brentford and Wolves since Pep Guardiola\u2019s men last played in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Arsenal are in action on Sunday when they travel to Tottenham in the north London derby.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Burnley dented Chelsea\u2019s chances of Champions League qualification by snatching a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, while Aston Villa also struck late to salvage a point against Leeds on Saturday. The Blues climb into the Premier League\u2019s top four only on goal difference after they paid for failing to build on Joao Pedro\u2019s fourth-minute opener. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":229724,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6807],"tags":[3894,70102,3262,2230,70104,99,26310,1192,12276,23316,8414,85,1429,5512,149,29721,1425,2227,5215,32508,70106,68100,48613,1415,2232,1427,3877,27838,18304,70105,13300,7978,3002,1856,70103,7374,3888,3236,12759],"class_list":{"0":"post-229723","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leagues-cups","8":"tag-adelaide-united","9":"tag-appearances-record","10":"tag-arsenal-football-club","11":"tag-aston-villa-football-club","12":"tag-brentford-and-brighton-amp-hove-albion","13":"tag-brighton","14":"tag-burnley-football-club","15":"tag-champions-league","16":"tag-danny-welbeck","17":"tag-diego-gomez","18":"tag-emi-martinez","19":"tag-england","20":"tag-europe","21":"tag-european-competition","22":"tag-football-news","23":"tag-fourth-minute-opener","24":"tag-getty-images-inc","25":"tag-goal-difference","26":"tag-james-milner","27":"tag-lewis-dunk","28":"tag-lewis-smith","29":"tag-liam-rosenior","30":"tag-luke-hales","31":"tag-manchester-city-football-club","32":"tag-manchester-united-football-club","33":"tag-northern-europe","34":"tag-red-card","35":"tag-red-card-drama","36":"tag-relegation-battlers","37":"tag-sets-appearance","38":"tag-survival-bid","39":"tag-tammy-abraham","40":"tag-title-race","41":"tag-united-kingdom","42":"tag-veteran-breaks","43":"tag-wesley-fofana","44":"tag-west-ham-united-football-club","45":"tag-yellow-card","46":"tag-zian-flemming"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=229723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229723\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/229724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=229723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=229723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=229723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}