Nicolas Jackson blew the chance to redeem himself with Mauricio Pochettino after Chelsea's penalty farce... his shameful week plummeted to new depths in defeat by Man City, writes SAMI MOKBEL

No wonder Nicolas Jackson was so desperate to take that penalty against Everton.

Because if this is how he finishes in open play, then he needs all the help he can get.

That maybe harsh on the Chelsea striker, but a week that started shamefully for Jackson plummeted to deeper depths here at Wembley on Saturday following a display of profligacy that contributed in no small part to his side missing out on a place in the FA Cup final.

It’s not been a few days Jackson will reflect on with much pride. He shouldn’t, anyway.

His role in Monday’s ludicrous debacle at Stamford Bridge, in which the Ivorian tried to wrestle the ball away from team-mates Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke after Chelsea had been awarded a penalty, created an unnecessary storm on a night his team had won 6-0.

And now this: a rather intolerable display in front of goal to end his team’s trophy ambitions.

Jackson suffered one of those days when all you want is the ground to open and swallow you up.

Although on this evidence he would have probably missed the chasm.

Who’s to say if Chelsea would have booked a return to the national stadium to face either Manchester United or Coventry in next month’s final had Jackson taken just one of three guild-edged opportunities laid on a plate for him by his colleagues.

They’d have stood a darn sight better chance if he had, of course.

Chances when playing Manchester City arrive sparingly at best. When they present themself, you grab them with a vice-like grip - particularly when you’ve made your team a laughing stock just a few days earlier.

Here, with a shot at glory on the line, Jackson was wasteful. That’s being kind.

There’s so much to admire about his game. The power, the pace - it's a dangerous concoction.

John Stones had no answer to an eye-catching dash down the left in the first-half. It provided a reminder of what Jackson is capable of.

But strikers score goals. The best are ruthless, cold-blooded. Here, Jackson showed all the composure of a child on Christmas morning.

Ask Chelsea fans, it’s become a familiar tale of their season.

Indeed, Jackson was the butt of the joke on social media in the aftermath of Saturday’s crushing loss.

With the game there for taking against a City team far from their brilliant best, Jackson was left on his knees.

Chelsea’s hopes of a second domestic final of the season blew up in smoke amid Jackson’s folly.

‘He had the game in the palm of his hand and he didn’t deliver,’ described Jermaine Jenas.

It was a withering assessment of Jackson’s contribution from the former England international - but not one that was exaggerated.

Big players deliver on the big occasion. Where does that leave Jackson?

Behind the scenes, those close to Jackson have been at pains to brush off his role in Monday’s penalty debacle amid a sense his urgency in ignoring team instructions, that has Cole Palmer nominated as first-choice penalty taker, was due to a rush of adrenaline and his will to add to his personal tally having scored earlier in the night.

Jackson’s role in the shambolic scenes were described as a reflection of his growing personality as he aims to fulfil his target of scoring 20 goals this season.

It was also pointed out that strikers should be self-centred and that Jackson is developing that egotistical streak.

There is probably an element of truth to those assertions. But any goodwill, certainly from Chelsea’s fans, is diminishing.

His head coach coach Mauricio Pochettino didn’t take too kindly to his actions on Monday night. Jackson did nothing here to make it up to his manager.

If Chelsea get their way, they will have an upgrade on Jackson in position before the start of next season.

That’s not to say his career with the Blues would necessarily go south if Chelsea secure the new No 9 they so desperately crave.

The raw materials are there. Jackson needs moulding - and at 22, time is on his side.

But teams the size of Chelsea can ill-afford their main source of goals to be learning on the job. That, unfortunately, is the position Jackson finds himself.

There’s been times this season when Jackson has made a tangible impact when playing out wide.

Yet those positive contributions have been all too inconsistent, certainly for a team of Chelsea’s ambitions.

But if Chelsea’s American owners are to deliver on their pledges to return the club to the top of domestic and European football then it looks unlikely that Jackson is the man to fire them there.