Chelsea vs Brighton LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Blues hold on after Conor Gallagher red
Chelsea 3-2 Brighton: Enzo Fernandez scored twice as the 10-man hosts survived late pressure to claim three points
Chelsea played the entirety of the second half with 10 men as they clung on to defeat Brighton 3-2 after a tense finale at Stamford Bridge.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were already two up thanks to headers from Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill when Conor Gallagher was shown a second yellow card for fouling Billy Gilmour in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Moments before Gallagher’s dismissal, Facundo Buonanotte had pulled Brighton back into it at 2-1 with swinging strike inside the post, and the stage looked set for a fightback by the visitors.
Instead, it was Chelsea that reasserted their charge, Fernandez converting from the spot midway through the second half after the excellent Mykhailo Mudryk had been fouled.
Joao Pedro came off the bench to head a goal back at the start of a lengthy period of added time, before Chelsea survived a penalty scare for a possible handball against Colwill with virtually the game’s final action.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton have started the second half on the front foot and are pushing Chelsea back into their own half. Baleba is allowed to carry the ball a long way, and decides to try his luck from range, but Sanchez gets down to hold it.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Andingra weaves this way and that, only to overrun the ball out of play at the byline. Sanchez goes long from the resulting free-kick to pick out Sterling, but Van Hecke brilliantly cuts out his throughball into Jackson.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton get us back under way for the second half!
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Pochettino won't be able to believe what's happened - his side looked to be in total control, but within two minutes at the end of the half, things flipped on their head. He knows it won't be easy to protect a lead against this Brighton side, especially with 10 men. De Zerbi won't be happy about the goals they conceded, but he can have no complaints about how they reacted. He'll know this game is there for the taking in the second half.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea take a 2-1 lead over Brighton into half-time, but face a tough second half with only 10 men. It was a perfect start for the Blues, who dominated for most of the first half. It was two corners that caught out Brighton, with Fernandez heading in his first-ever Premier League goal from close range, before Colwill netted his first Chelsea goal with a thumping header. The Seagulls started to grow into the game, and Buonanotte pulled one back with a wonderful curling finish before Steele pulled off a marvellous save at the other end. The Chelsea captain, Gallagher, was then sent off for his second yellow card offence.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
WIDE! Ferguson peels out to the left and drops a shoulder to wrongfoot Disasi before fizzing a low shot on goal from a long way out. A touch from one of his team-mates would've taken it past Sanchez, but instead, it rolls wide of the far post.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea clear their lines after Brighton's latest attack, and Sterling has space to run down the right. He plays it isn't to Fernandez, continuing down the wing, only to stray offside when it comes to him.
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