CHELSEA managed to escape the Amex with a 2-1 win over Brighton – but Reece James’ red card stole the headlines.
Cole Palmer continued his sensational form by opening the scoring before Christopher Nkunku put the Blues two up.
Welbeck did pull one back for the hosts which made it a nervy ending.
But prior to that, Reece James was sent off for kicking out at Joao Pedro and will now miss the first three games of next season.
- RESULT: Brighton 1-2 Chelsea
- TV channel: Not being shown on television in the UK
- Chelsea XI: Petrovic, Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella, Gallagher, Caicedo, Palmer, Madueke, Jackson, Mudryk
- Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Webster, Dunk, Igor, Gross, Gilmour, Buonanotte, Enciso, Adingra, Joao Pedro
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Follow ALL the latest action from the AMEX with our live blog below…
“We have kept working and being positive”
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “The approach of the game, facing a team that plays well like Brighton, it’s a massive credit to our players.
“I’m so happy and the three points puts us in a very good position in the table to attack the last game against Bournemouth for the possibility to be in Europe.
“Brighton is a very good team and it’s always difficult to play here.
“We have improved results and performances. We talked about patience and when you need to build something you need time but it always looks like an excuse at a big club. We have kept working and being positive and to finish in a good way would be good for the club.”
Credit: GETTY “All the players love the manager”
Chelsea goalscorer Cole Palmer said: “We needed three points and it was hard towards the end but for it to be in our hands to get sixth place is a big thing for us.
“Marc Cucurella knows where I’m going to be and I lifted it over the goalkeeper.
“Chelsea is a big club and everyone wants to finish higher than sixth but you have to look at where we were at the start of the season so to get back into Europe would be a step in the right direction.
“All credit to the manager. All the players love the manager and want to fight for him.”
Credit: GETTY “Disappointing, frustrating”
Brighton’s Danny Welbeck said: “Disappointing, frustrating. We didn’t play to the best of our ability and that’s the frustrating part. We have to analyse and see where we can do much better and finish the season strongly against Manchester United.
“This is a game we wanted to win and we have to brush ourselves down and go again.
“It has been a long time and I’m not happy at that but obviously happy to get a goal. Overall we’re disappointed with the result, it’s very frustrating. As professionals we want to finish very well, the best we can and we want to give the fans a good lasting moment for the summer.”
Danny Welbeck scored his third goal in four games against ChelseaCredit: GETTY
Match report
By our man at the Amex Stadium, Jordan Davies.
Cole Palmer’s season gets better and better, while Reece James’ could hardly get worse.
Chelsea’s superstar Palmer has single-handedly guided the club from the depths of mid-table to what should be continental football next season with his elite goal-getting prowess.
His 22nd of the Premier League term – a smooth looping header in the 34th minute – helped down Brighton to lift the Blues into a Europa League-beckoning sixth spot.
And as if Palmer’s shoulders are not heavy enough, he will surely be expected to replicate this stunning form for England in Germany this summer at the Euros.
But what of James… Read the full report HERE
Credit: GETTY Run
Chelsea’s four-game winning streak is their best in the Premier League since a run between 3 September to 16 October in 2022.
Credit: GETTY Elsewhere
It’s all over at Old Trafford. Manchester United have beaten Newcastle 3-2 and still have a chance of finishing in the European places. The final day is shaping up to be a tasty one.
Brighton 1-2 Chelsea
What an entertaining game that was. It had everything. Goals, red cards, the woodwork was struck a few times but Chelsea take those valuable three points back to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues find themselves in sixth, which is their highest league position of the season, with one match remaining – and it’s very winnable home game against Bournemouth with the potential to leapfrog Spurs into fifth.
As for Brighton, they remain in tenth ahead of their final game against Manchester United.
The standingsCredit: GOOGLE Brighton 1-2 Chelsea
FT: Chelsea win! The Blues just about survive a very late onslaught from Brighton to secure all three points and leave themselves in the driving seat for Europa League football. Big, big win for the visitors.
Credit: GETTY Brighton 1-2 Chelsea
100: Close! Pascal Gross’ in-swinger looks dangerous but goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic does well to punch it clear through a crowd of players. Was that the last opportunity?
Brighton 1-2 Chelsea
99: Lesley Ugochukwu and Cesare Casadei replace Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer. Chelsea are desperate for this final whistle as Brighton win a corner.
Brighton 1-2 Chelsea – Welbeck
98: Goal! Maybe. Just maybe. Danny Welbeck scores his third goal in four matches against Chelsea – and his first on home turf this season!
The Englishman strides through the middle to clip Joao Pedro’s low cross beyond Bart Verbruggen. Just over two minutes left. They couldn’t, could they?
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
96: Not a lot of sympathy for Conor Gallagher, who’s on the deck with a bit of cramp. Boos from the crowd as the referee stops play. Don’t worry, he’s fine.
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
94: Woodwork! It ain’t going to happen, Brighton. Simon Adingra’s cushioned effort bounces off the left post.
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
92: The Brighton supporters have a renewed energy but it’s not translated to any chances on the pitch as of yet. Lots of passing in Chelsea territory but the visitors have everyone behind the ball.
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
90: Thiago Silva replaces Nicolas Jackson for the closing stages.
How much added time will there be? It’s TEN MINUTES folks! Now this could be a grandstand finish…
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
87: Red card! He’s only been on the pitch for a few minutes but Reece James is off and will miss the last match of the season. He’s on the floor and kicks out at Joao Pedro – just like the David Beckham incident all those years ago. Petulant.
Referee Michael Salisbury is advised to look at it on the monitor and decides to dismiss the Blues captain.
Reece James is sent offCredit: GETTY Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
85: It just won’t go in! Joao Pedro, Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck all try their luck during a scrappy passage but Conor Gallagher scrambles it clear.
Ansu Fati and 21-year-old Odeluga Offiah replace Julio Enciso and Tariq Lamptey.
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
82: Booked! Bart Verbruggen is carded for rushing out of the penalty area to stop Nicolas Jackson. The Brighton goalkeeper does go to ground but actually makes zero contact as the Chelsea striker dives over him. He goes in the book regardless.
Raheem Sterling fires it straight at the goalkeeper. Tame.
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
79: The biggest cheer of the night is reserved for… Moises Caicedo being booked for a foul on Joao Pedro. That whole incident started after some find defending from Valentin Barco. I like that kid. Only 19. He’s also just had an effort on target.
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
76: That’s Raheem Sterling in the book for a foul on Valentin Barco. A few moments earlier, the youthful looking Barco released Simon Adingra but his effort ballooned over.
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
73: It’s not entirely over yet. Only Newcastle (14) have scored more Premier League goals from substitutes this season than Brighton (12). However, it’s not looking too likely with Danny Welbeck having failed to score a single top-flight goal at home this season.
Still, good that he got a new deal, eh?
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
70: More good news for Chelsea as Manchester United retake the lead at Old Trafford through Amad Diallo. It’s a stunner apparently. That leaves the Blues with a three-point advantage over the pair of them.
Poch eventually makes a double change. Raheem Sterling and Reece James replace Noni Madueke and Malo Gusto.
Carlos Baleba and Danny Welbeck replace Facundo Buonanotte and Billy Gilmour for Brighton.
Hang it in the LouvreCredit: GETTY Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
68: Reece James was going to replace Noni Madueke but Malo Gusto is struggling. Mauricio Pochettino now weighing up his options.
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea
65: Christopher Nkunku really does know how to find the net. He seems ruthless. Just find myself wondering where the Blues would be if he’d been fit for the whole campaign.
Brighton 0-2 Chelsea – Nkunku
63: Goal! Is that game, set and match? Christopher Nkunku has doubled Chelsea’s lead at the Amex Stadium.
It’s his third goal for Chelsea, but much of the credit has to go to Malo Gusto. The right-back strides down the right before cutting the ball back to Nkunku, who cooly slots it beyond a helpless Bart Verbruggen.
Christopher Nkunku celebratesCredit: GETTY
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
