A L B I O N C H R O N I C L E - ( 6 )
28 SEPTEMBER 2024 - CHELSEA 4 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBIOIN -
PREMIER LEAGUE - at STAMFORD BRIDGE, LONDON, S.W.
Matchday 6 saw unbeaten Albion travel to West London to meet Chelsea in a Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge, the match being covered by Talksport 2 and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
The players of both sides wore black armbands in recognition of the passing away of former Albion and Worthing Manager and Chelsea, Fulham and Brentford player Barry Lloyd (75) earlier in the day. RIP Barry.
Last time out in the Premier the Albion had drawn 2-2 at home to Nottingham Forest on the 22 September and for their visit to Stamford Bridge, Albion made three enforced changes to their starting line-up from the Forest game, with Ferdi Kadioglu, Adam Webster and Mats Wieffer coming in for the unavailable Joel Veltman, Jan Paul Van Hecke and Simon Adingra.
In their previous Premier outing Chelsea had enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win at West Ham on the 21 September and for Albion's visit Chelsea made one change to their starting line-up from that game, with Malo Gusto replacing Tosin Adarabioyo in defence.
In the Chelsea line-up were three former Albion players, Robert Sanchez, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo, plus Chelsea loanee Levi Colwill.The teams met three times last season, with Chelsea winning all three games. In the Premier, it was 3-2 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the 3 December 2023, . In the return game at the Amex on the 15 May 2024, it was 2-1 to Chelsea, The third game was in the Carabao Cup, Third Round on the 27 September 2023 at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea won 1-0,
Albion's line-up at Stamford Bridge on the 3 December 2023 was (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Joel Veltman, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Igor Julio (Benicio Baker-Boalty 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 Adingra; Evan Ferguson.
Subs not used: Bart Verbruggen (G/K), Jakub Moder, Leigh Kavanagh, Mark O'Mahony.The Seagulls made the ideal start when on 7 minutes Levi Colwill's clearance in the box was charged down and Georginio Rutter's brave header looped into the Chelsea net to put the visitors ahead. It was Rutter's first Premier goal for the Albion. 1-0. Both teams were going for broke and it was end-to-end stuff as Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal deflected away Danny Welbeck's goalbound cross.
On 20 minutes Cole Palmer's delicate chip eluded Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen but struck the post and bounced back into play. Seconds later Adam Webster's under-hit back pass to Verbruggen was intercepted by the lively Nicolas Jackson whose square-pass to Palmer saw the ball end up in the Albion net for the equaliser. 1-1.Albion had a let-off minutes later when Jadon Sancho's goal was ruled out for offside by the slimmest of margins. Albion's high defensive back-line was continually being breached by the pacy Chelsea front men.
The Seagulls went behind on 28 minutes when Carlos Baleba fouled Sancho in the box and up-stepped Palmer to calmly convert the penalty-kick. 1-2.
Three minutes later Pervis Estupinan pulled down winger Noni Madueke some 25 yards from goal and hot-shot Palmer sent a superb curled free-kick in the top of the net for Chelsea's and his third. A hat-trick for Palmer in the space of ten minutes. 1-3.
To their credit, Albion fought back and on 34 minutes Sanchez's poor pass-out from the back was intercepted by Baleba who scored with a low shot for Albion's second. It was also Baleba's first Premier goal for the Seagulls.2-3.
Further chances continued to be created by both teams, as Sanchez saved Baleba's piledriver and at the other end Verbruggen denied Madueke and Sancho. On 41 minutes a wayward Brighton pass was picked up by Enzo Fernandez in midfield, whose exquisite through-pass found the on-running Palmer whose low shot beat Verbruggen all ends up. 2-4. It was four first-half goals for Palmer and a new Premier League record. Palmer was also assisted by Albion's woeful defending.Half-time 2-4.
The second-half was an anti-climax by comparison to the first. Webster, on redemption, made two goal-line clearances early second-half . Further opportunities were missed by Chelsea, Jackson (twice) and Palmer. Albion, no doubt, were pleased to not concede any further goals but Head Coach Hurzeler needs to sort out his back-line. This defeat ended Albion's undefeated start to the season.
Final-score 2-4.
Match stats:
Albion had 15 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 8. Chelsea had 15 attempts at goal, with 7 on target and won 8 corners, free-kicks conceded - 11.VERDICT - A madcap first-half saw Albion's high defensive line ruthlessly exposed by Chelsea's pacy front runners and Cole Palmer helped himself to a record four first-half goals. Chelsea's defence was also fragile but made fewer mistakes than Albion's. A great game for Chelsea and neutral football followers.
Albion line-up (4-3-3):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Ferdi KADIOGLU (Julio ENCISO 71), Adam WEBSTER (Igor JULIO 57), Lewis DUNK (Capt), Pervis ESTUPINAN; Carlos BALEBA, Mats WIEFFER (Yasin AYARI 57), Jack HINSHELWOOD; Georginio RUTTER (Yantuba MINTEH 71), Danny WELBECK (Evan FERGUSON 81), Kaoru MITOMA.
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Tariq LAMPTEY, Imari SAMUELS, Jakub MODER.Chelsea line-up (4-2-3-1):- Robert SANCHEZ; Malo GUSTO, Wesley FOFANA, Levi OLWILL, Marc CUCURELLA (Renato VEIGA 70); Moises CAICEDO, Enzo FERNANDEZ (Capt) (Romeo LAVIA 79); Noni MADUEKE (Pedro NETO 63), Cole PALMER, Jadon SANCHO (Mykhailo MUDRYK 71); Nicolas JACKSON (Christopher NKUNKU 79).
Subs not used: Filip JORGENSON (G/K), Axel DISASI, Tosin ADARABIOYO, Joao FELIX.Referee: Peter Bankes (Lancashire).
Fourth Official: David Webb.
VAR Official: Michael Oliver.Yellow Cards:
Albion: 2 - Lewis Dunk, Pervis Estupinan.
Chelsea: 3 - Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez.Possession: Albion - 59%. Chelsea - 41%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Cole Palmer (Chelsea).
Attendance: 39495.
NEXT GAME:
6 OCTOBER 2024 - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - HOME - PREMIER LEAGUE -
KICK-OFF 16.30. "LIVE" ON SKY SPORTS.
Jack Kaye.
