Joey Barton was sent off for the first time since moving to France last night as Marseille slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to bottom club Nancy.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon today insisted his club had no option but to sack Adrian Mutu over his failed drugs test and denied there was any vendetta to force the Romanian striker out of Stamford Bridge.

JOSE MOURINHO has targeted Chelsea’s November 6 encounter with high-flying Everton as the day Arjen Robben will return to lift the Blues out of their striking crisis.

Premiership latest:

Lazio defender Sinisa Mihajlovic has apologised for his behaviour against Chelsea that earned him an eight-match ban from UEFA.