Chelsea FC travelled to American Express Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion. The Blues after picking up some pace in the business end of the English Premier League were 7th in the league table before the game. The Seagulls have performed poorly in the season as they were 10th in the table. The game started end to end with both sides tried opening the scoring with the visitors took the lead in the 34th minute of the game as Cole Palmer meeting the cross of Marc Cucurella and breaking the deadlock.
The second half was exciting after the two sides had their chances but the visitors capitalise after a superb overlapping run from Malo Gusto drawing a low pass to Christopher Nkunku who scored the second for the side. However the visitors were down to 10 men after substitute Reece James was shown a direct red for his crude challenge on Joao Pedro. The home side piled the pressure as they pulled one back after Pedro's cross was met by Danny Welbeck.
Here are the Match ratings:
Brighton & Hove Albion
Bart Verbruggen-5
The Dutch keeper was not at fault for the two goals he conceded, however did some decent saves to keep the score to two. He got away with a possible red card after he brought down Jackson outside the box.
Tariq Lamptey-4.5
The full back was decent in the game as he struggled against Nkunku's pace and could not do much attackingly as well.
Adam Webster-4
Webster struggled against Palmer and Nkunku as the switched positions every time creating problems for him and could not mark the former when he scored the first goal of the game.
Lewis Dunk- 4
The center back struggled against the pace of Jackson, Palmer and Madueke and could not do much in the defensive third and was thus taken off right after the first half.
Igor-4
He struggled in the left hand side with Gusto and Nkunku running at him, was caught out of position for the second goal as he was beaten with pace by the former.
Pascal Gross-4.5
Had the best chance of the game in the second half but could not capitalise on the same, was pretty much decent in the midfield.
Billy Gilmour-4.5
The former Chelsea man was not upto his best of games in the middle of the park, and neither destroy the attacks of the visitors.
Facundo Buonanotte-4.5
The Argentine was not at his best on the night could not creat much impact in the game failed to trouble Cucurella much in the wings.
Julio Enciso-4
He was good in the game tried creating the chances for the side and busy throughout but could not deliver the end product.
Simon Adingra-5
Adingra was decent in the game as could not have much chance of running to the defence with Chalobah marking him brilliantly and outperformed him as well.
Joao Pedro-7
He was the best man for the side tried creating chances but he was well marked most of the game got some space after Welbeck came on and delivered the assist as well.
Substitutions
Adam Lallana-N/A
Jakub Moder-N/A
Danny Welbeck-6.5
The experienced campaigner was brought on to pressure the defenders of the Blues and he pulled one back in the 98th minute of the game.
Valentin Barco-7.5
The full back was excellent since coming on created lot of pressure against Gusto and later on James. He delivered some great balls in the box.
Carlos Baleba-N/A
Jason Steele-N/A
Ansu Fati-N/A
Odeluga Offiah-N/A
Noel Atom-N/A
Chelsea
Dorde Petrovic-7
The keeper was busy in the first half making some good saves in the game and keeping the lead for the side. Was not much troubled in the second half.
Malo Gusto-7.5
The full back was excellent in the attacking third as he made brilliant runs down the wings created problems Igor and set up the second goal for Nkunku as well.
Trevor Chalobah-7.5
Excellent at the center back position made some good blocks and interceptions inside the box made Joao Pedro silent for most of the game, was brilliant with his tackling inside the box.
Benoit Badiashile-5.5
For most of the match he was troubled but with Wellback coming in he started fumbling and failed to marke the run of the striker as Brighton pulled one back.
Marc Cucurella-6.5
The Spanish up against his former side was decent in the game as he was caught out of positions sometimes and letting the home side an opening to score the goal. Gave decent contribution in the attacking third as well.
Moises Caicedo-8
Caicedo also was playing against his former team and he showed excellent composure with the ball in the middle of the park and controlled the game in the midfield.
Conor Gallagher-5.5
Gallagher was decent in the game as he was overshadowed in the middle of the park by his own teammate Caicedo. He made some attacking runs but could not deliver the final ball.
Noni Madueke-5
The winger was good on the night making the runs in the wings, sometimes shifted towards the middle in search of a goal, but could not find.
Cole Palmer-8.5
Palmer was excellent on the night creating the chances for the side and making runs inside the box with the ball and scored the most important first goal of the game.
Mykhailo Mudryk-2
The Ukranian was decent in the game however was taken off due to a concussion during the inital stages of the game as he went straight inside the tunnel.
Nicolas Jackson-7
The striker except for scoring a goal did everything possible was good on the night was always a threat in the attacking half created spaces in between the lines.
Substitutions
Thiago Silva-N/A
Raheem Sterling-N/A
Marcus Bettinelli-N/A
Lesley Ugochukwu-N/A
Christopher Nkunku-8.5
The French winger was brilliant since coming on as he created lot more spaces in the game and scored the second goal of the game as well.
Ben Chilwell-N/A
Reece James-N/A
Levi Colwill-N/A
Casera Casadei-N/A
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