Graham Potter marks Brighton return with disastrous defeat

After qualifying for the Champions League last 16 in midweek, Chelsea's week ended with a miserable defeat to Brighton. Potter's men could have conceded three goals in the first five minutes and Trossard scored one of the chances. A Loftus-Cheek own goal meant Chelsea were two down inside 15 minutes and even though the visitors fought back, Chalobah put through his own net just before the interval to end the contest. Havertz ended up scoring for Chelsea, but Gross got Brighton's fourth in the closing stages. The match also saw Chelsea lose Kepa to injury.

Thiago Silva made several mistakes in the opening exchanges and had to head a Trossard chip off the line. He then denied Caicedo moments later, but the Brazilian made another blunder in the fifth minute and this time he was punished. He gave the ball straight to Mitoma, who picked out Trossard and the Belgian went around Kepa before finding the far corner. 

The away side were stunned and things got worse for them in the 14th minute when March's inswinging corner went in off Loftus-Cheek's left knee. The home crowd were jubilant and Chelsea finally decided to start playing. Conor Gallagher was Chelsea's best player and he forced two superb saves out of the home goalkeeper. 

Brighton had not finished though and Moises Caicedo struck the outside of the post just after the half hour against a Kepa who had asked to be substituted. Then, just before half-time, Chelsea conceded once again after Caicedo played in Estupinan and his square pass looking for Mitoma was turned in by Chalobah. 

Potter's side had a mountain to climb in the second 45 and Edouard Mendy came on for his 100th Chelsea appearance to replace the injured Kepa. The Senegalese sits seventh when it comes to clean sheets for Chelsea (49) while his 100 appearances leave him 34 behind Kepa.

Chelsea came out with a point to prove and they quickly made their mark as Havertz netted in the 48th minute after heading home Sam Gallagher's cross. Chelsea continued to grow into the contest and Mason Mount nearly scored after his strike was deflected, but Sanchez pulled off another terrific stop. Aubameyang was brought on to try and change things and he tested the Spanish goalie with a dangerous shot from the edge of the box, but Sanchez was brilliant.

It was a better second half display from Chelsea overall, but too much damage had been done in the first period and Pascal Gross put the icing on the cake in stoppage when he scored from six yards after Mendy had made two fine saves to deny Paraguayan substitute Julio Enciso.

 

October 29, 2022