CHELSEA 3 - BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
PREMIER LEAGUE
at STAMFORD BRIDGE, LONDON S.W.
After the euphoria of Athens three days earlier, the Albion were back on the Premier League trail, this time to West London to meet Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the match being broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Radio Sussex Sport. This was Albion's second visit to Stamford Bridge this season, the previous excursion being a Carabao Cup Third Round tie which Chelsea won 1-0, by virtue of a NIcolas Jackson goal (50m).
Albion made five changes to their starting line-up from the AEK Athens game which took place on the 30 November, with Jason Steele, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Carlos Baleba, Facundo Buonanotte and Adam Lallana coming in for Bart Verbruggen, Lewis Dunk (suspended), Pascal Gross, Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro.
Last time out Chelsea lost 1-4 at Newcastle United on the 25 November and for Albion's visit to Stamford Bridge, Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino made four changes to his starting line-up from the Newcastle game, with Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill, Moises Caicedo and Mykhailo Mudryk replacing Reece James (suspended), Marc Cucurella (suspended),Lesley Ugochukwu and Cole Palmer. Defender
Levi Colwill had been on loan at the Albion last season and midfielder Moises Caicedo had joined Chelsea from Albion in the summer of 2023 for a British record fee of £115 million. Likewise Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had joined the Blues from the Albion in the summer of 2023 for a fee of £25 million.
In their meetings last season, the Albion did the double over Chelsea, winning 4-1 at the Amex on the 29 October 2022, with their goals coming from Leandro Trossard , Ruben Loftus-Cheek, own goal, Trevor Chalobah, own goal and Pascal Gross . Chelsea's consolation came from Kai Havertz .
In the return fixture at Stamford Bridge on the 15 April 2023, the Albion won 2-1, with their goals being scored by Danny Welbeck and Julio Enciso , after Conor Gallagher had given Chelsea an early lead.
Prior to kick-off there was a minute's applause in honour of former Chelsea Captain and England Manager Terry Venables, who passed away on the 26 November 2023, aged 80.
After the initial sparring, Chelsea took the lead on 17 minutes when from a Conor Gallagher corner Benoit Badiashile hooked the ball over his shoulder to the far post where the unmarked Enzo Fernandez headed the ball home. It was the Argentine's first goal in the Premier. 0-1. The goal spurred the Blues on and with 21 minutes on the clock another Gallagher corner saw Nicolas Jackson head the ball across the six-yard box where former Albion loanee Levi Colwill nodded the ball home for Chelsea's second. It was Colwill's first goal for Chelsea in the Premier. 0-2.
The home side were now in full flow and a fine individual run by Mykhailo Mudryk ended with a low shot which missed the target by a whisker. Two minutes prior to the break the Seagulls pulled a goal back when Facundo Buonanotte cut in from the right and curled a fine left foot past Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal. 1-2.
Albion keeper Jason Steele then made a fine double-save to deny striker Jackson. More drama was to follow in time added on when Gallagher received a second yellow card for a challenge on Billy Gilmour, followed by a red and off went the Chelsea Captain.
Half-time 1-2.
The second-half started with Chelsea's Jackson having a goal disallowed for a foul on Jan Paul Van Hecke and on 57 minutes Roberto De Zerbi made a quadruple substitution, with James Milner, Pascal Gross, Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro replacing Jack Hinshelwood, Carlos Baleba, Facundo Buonanotte and Adam Lallana.
Chelsea netted a third on 65 minutes when Milner was eventually adjudged to have fouled Mudryk in the box. Initially Referee Craig Pawson waved aside Chelsea's appeals for a penalty but VAR intervened and Referee Pawson was forced to change his decision and up-stepped Fernandez to convert the resultant penalty-kick. 1-3.
With their man advantage the Seagulls had plenty of possession but couldnt create clear chances to reflect their fine passing deserved. Youngster Benicio Baker-Boaltey came on for his Albion debut on 84 minutes, substituting for Igor Julio. In time added on Pedro scored with a flicked header from a Milner corner. It was Pedro's tenth goal for the Albion in all competitions. 2-3. The drama continued deep into time added on when Referee Pawson awarded Albion a penalty when Colwill appeared to handle the ball in the box but VAR decided the ball had struck Colwill's head and the award was reversed.
Final-score 2-3.
Match stats:
Albion had 18 attempts at goal, with 9 on target and won 8 corners, free-kicks conceded - 12.
Chelsea had 8 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 16.
VERDICT - A thrilling game but no points for the Albion. The goals the Seagulls conceded were preventable but at the end 3047 Albion supporters in the Shed End gave their team a rousing ovation in recognition of their efforts.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Joel Veltman, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Igor Julio (Benicio Baker-Boaltey 84), Jack Hinshelwood (James Milner 57); Carlos Baleba (Pascal Gross 57), Billy Gilmour; Facundo Buonanotte (Kaoru Mitoma 57), Adam Lallana (Capt) (Joao Pedro 57), Simon Adringa; Evan Ferguson.
Subs not used: Bart Verbruggen (G/K), Jakub Moder, Leigh Kavanagh, Mark O'Mahony.
Chelsea line-up (4-2-3-1):- Robert Sanchez; Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill; Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Raheem Sterling (Cole Palmer 66), Conor Gallagher (Capt), Mykhailo Mudryk (Armando Broja 81); Nicolas Jackson (Ian Maatsen 72). Subs not used: Djordje Petrovic (G/K), Noni Madueke, Alfie Gilchrist, Alex Matos, Deivid Washington, Lucas Bergstrom (G/K).
Referee: Craig Pawson (Sheffield).
Red Card: Chelsea: 1 - Conor Gallagher.
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 6 - Igor Julio, Jack Hinshelwood, James Milner, Pascal Gross, Billy Gilmour, Joao Pedro.
Chelsea: 5 - Robert Sanchez, Benoit Badiashile, Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher (2).
Possession: Albion - 68%. Chelsea - 32%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Billy Gilmour (Albion).
Attendance: 39647 (including 3047 Albion fans).
FA CUP DRAW - For the second season running, Albion have been drawn away to Sky Bet Championship side Stoke City. The third round tie will take place at Stoke on the weekend of the 6/7 January 2024. Last season, the teams met in the 5th Round of the competition, at the Bet 365 Stadium on the 28 February 2023, with the Albion winning through an Evan Ferguson goal (30m).
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
6 DECEMBER 2023 - BRENTFORD - home - Premier League - kick-off 19.30.
9 DECEMBER 2023 - BURNLEY - home - Premier League - kick-off 15.00.
14 DECEMBER 2023 - MARSEILLE - home - Europa League - kick-off 20.00.
"Live" on TNT Sports.