'Been bullied' - Chris Sutton slams Chelsea star for weak performance against Sunderland
Chris Sutton did not hold back in his thoughts of Levi Colwill's performance against Sunderland, delivering a brutal verdict on the Chelsea defender during his Sky Sports commentary.
The England international had a difficult afternoon against Brian Brobbey, who caused problems for Chelsea's defence.
Things got even worse for Colwill in the 36th minute when he conceded a penalty after bringing down the Sunderland striker. Sutton was quick to point out just how much the defender had struggled against his opponent.
Chris Sutton says Levi Colwill was bullied against Sunderland
Colwill was having a difficult time dealing with Brobbey before the penalty incident, with the Sunderland forward proving a real handful for Chelsea's backline.
The Dutchman used his strength to hold off the centre-back, making it difficult for him to get close enough to challenge without being outmuscled.
When Colwill eventually brought Brobbey down inside the penalty area in the 36th minute, Sutton delivered a damning assessment of the defender's performance.
"He (Colwill) has been bullied in this first half by Brian Brobbey," the former striker said on Sky Sports commentary.
It was a harsh verdict, but one that proved the problems Colwill was having against Sunderland's physical approach.
Brobbey is a powerful centre-forward who thrives on getting defenders involved in one-on-one battles. Colwill should have been better positioned to deal with him, particularly given his experience at the highest level.
Instead, he found himself on the wrong side of the contest and gave Sunderland an opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot.
Chelsea cannot afford their defenders to be dominated like this
There is no shame in struggling against a striker with Brobbey's physical qualities, but Colwill's performance should concern Xabi Alonso.
Chelsea need their centre-backs to be comfortable dealing with different types of forwards, particularly in the Premier League, where duels and one-on-ones are a huge part of the game.
Colwill has plenty of qualities that make him an important player for the Blues. He is composed in possession, reads the game well and has the technical ability to help Chelsea build from the back.
However, defending is about more than playing out from the back, and he needs to show that he can cope when opponents make life uncomfortable for him.
The 22-year-old has also had to work his way back from a serious knee injury, so there is an element of patience required as he gets back to his best.
That does not mean performances like this should go without criticism, though. Chelsea cannot keep allowing opposition forwards to dictate the physical battle.
