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
Colwill makes a driving run through midfield and Van Hecke tries to block the path, getting a kick in the process. He stays down, but gets back to his feet after a little while without needing treatment.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
There's a very nervy moment at the back for Chelsea as Sanchez is far too casual when Fernandez knocks it back to him. The ball skims off his foot and rolls towards his net, but the keeper reacts quickly to prevent the own goal.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Adingra wins a free-kick through the middle and Gilmour clips it into the box. Silva only half clears it, but Hinshelwood rushes in to try and keep it alive, only to lift it out of play under pressure from Caicedo.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
De Zerbi is pacing in his technical area, and he'll have concerns about how those two goals were conceded. Brighton are pushing upfield at the moment, but they don't seem to know what to do when they get into the final third.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
CHANCE! Chelsea have the feel for it now, and it's back with Sterling down the right side. He fizzes a low cross into the six-yard box, but Baleba slides in to deflect it just wide of the near post.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
BLOCK! Brighton just can't get out of their own half at the moment, and Jackson's darting run down the left has the visitors scrambling back into their box. He clips it in from the byline, but Van Hecke blocks it just ahead of Fernandez.
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