Chelsea’s Cole Palmer saw his flawless Premier League penalty record come to an abrupt end on Sunday, March 9, as he missed his first career spot-kick during a 1-0 win against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.
The England international, previously perfect with 12 successful penalties in the competition, was denied by Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen in the 22nd minute, halting a streak that had surpassed Manchester City legend Yaya Touré’s mark of 11-for-11.
The penalty was awarded after Leicester’s Rasmus Kristensen fouled Jadon Sancho in the box, prompting referee Tim Robinson to point to the spot.
Despite a two-minute delay caused by protests from Leicester players, Palmer stepped up and struck the ball low toward the bottom-right corner.
Hermansen, however, anticipated the shot, diving to his left to push it around the post in a save that kept the game level at the time.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca later revealed that Palmer had been battling illness in the lead-up to the match, missing training for 48 hours due to a fever and diarrhoea.
“Cole didn’t train yesterday and didn’t feel well last night,” Maresca said in a post-match press conference. “This morning, he asked me to play because he wanted to help the team. That’s why he was out there.”
Palmer’s determination to feature underscored his commitment, though his performance reflected his physical struggles, culminating in his substitution in the 75th minute—the fourth-earliest exit of his Chelsea career.
The miss did not prove costly for Chelsea, who secured the three points thanks to a 60th-minute long-range strike from Marc Cucurella.
The victory marked Chelsea’s third consecutive win across all competitions, lifting them back into the Premier League’s top four.
Leicester, despite a spirited late push, could not capitalise on Hermansen’s heroics, leaving Stamford Bridge empty-handed.
On social media captured the shock among fans, with many noting Palmer’s uncharacteristic dip in form—he has now gone eight games without a goal, his longest drought since joining Chelsea in August 2023.
Others praised Hermansen’s save, with one user dubbing it “the moment Leicester almost turned the tide.”
Palmer, still the club’s top scorer this season with 14 Premier League goals, remains a focal point for Chelsea, though his recent struggles have sparked debate about his current confidence levels.
The miss ends a remarkable run for the 22-year-old, who had earned a reputation as one of the league’s coolest finishers from the spot, highlighted by a daring Panenka against Tottenham in December 2024.
As Chelsea prepares for their next fixture, attention will turn to whether Palmer can rediscover his scoring touch—and whether his penalty duties remain unchallenged.
