Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez was taken to hospital for precautionary tests after suffering a head injury in a collision with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite during Saturday’s Premier League match at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The incident caused a lengthy stoppage after Martinez came to punch clear from a free-kick as Branthwaite challenged for the ball. Both players went down immediately following the impact, with medics attending to them on the pitch.
Martinez received oxygen while lying on his back and was eventually carried off on a stretcher after around six minutes. He appeared conscious, moving his arms as he was taken from the field, and was replaced by 21-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders in the 73rd minute.
“As far as I know, he left the stadium conscious,” Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso told TNT Sports after the match. “He’s in the hospital doing precautionary tests. This is what I know so far.”
Branthwaite, who suffered cuts to his nose and lip, was also assessed and underwent a concussion test before continuing the match. The television coverage did not show a replay of the collision.
Martinez, 34, joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for £7.5 million late in the transfer window, having been brought in as the club sought to address their goalkeeping problems. Former first choice Robert Sanchez conceded three times against Fulham on the opening weekend and is now on loan at Como.
The Argentina international has yet to keep a clean sheet across a full 90 minutes for Chelsea, with the team’s defensive record leaving him exposed on several occasions.
He was booed by some supporters as he was stretchered from the pitch, with the stoppage lasting roughly 10 minutes.
Neto scored twice, including a late goal in the 90th minute, as Chelsea secured victory against an Everton side who had begun the match unbeaten. The result lifted Alonso’s team to fourth in the table, while Everton moved down to sixth, although both positions were subject to change during the rest of the weekend.
Chelsea had entered the international break after a 3-0 defeat by Brentford but have since responded with a 5-1 win over Bournemouth and victory at Everton.
