Fabregas received two yellow cards after Gary Cahill had been sent off (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte held a team meeting on Monday and warned his players to clean up their act after picking up a fourth red card from their last three competitive games.

The champions were reduced to 10 men after 14 minutes against Burnley on Saturday after skipper Gary Cahill was shown a straight red card.

And not long into the second half their task was made even harder when Cesc Fabregas – already booked for sarcastically clapping the referee – was shown a second yellow for a late tackle.

Fabregas was shown his marching orders despite a half-time warning from his manager (Getty)

According to the Mirror, Conte was particularly furious with the Spaniard’s ill-discipline, having made a point of telling the players to calm down at half-time.

Having already been a man light, and with tempers frayed, the Chelsea coaching staff had warned the players not to fall foul of referee Craig Pawson in the second period.

Conte had specifically told his players to clam down and not get on the wrong side of the ref (Getty)

Yet, despite those words of warning still ringing in his ears, Fabregas lunged in, studs up, to ensure that he, like Cahill, will be suspended for the testing trip to face Tottenham on Sunday.

The Blues must take on Spurs without a host of first-team players, with Eden Hazard and summer signing Tiemoue Bakayoko still sidelined though injury.

Conte hopes to be able to call on Spanish winger Pedro, who should overcome an ankle injury in time for the match, while Victor Moses has served the suspension he picked up in the FA Cup final.

With so few bodies left in midfield, David Luiz is expected to replace Fabregas in the heart of the midfield, who may find his place tough to win back should Bakayoko hit the ground running.

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