CHELSEA have fallen further behind leaders Manchester City after being pegged back by Brighton in a 1-1 draw.
Hakim Ziyech had put the Blues ahead in the first half with a long-range rocket, before Adam Webster equalised for the Seagulls with a booming header from a corner on the hour mark.
The result leaves Chelsea 12 points below City in third place.
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‘Chelsea are struggling’
Brighton’s star man Adam Webster says his team knew the Blues were arriving at the Amex in a funk.
The defender says: “Chelsea are struggling a bit, we sensed that. We felt we could have got all three points but in the end are happy with the draw.
“When you come up against Chelsea you have got to be on top of your game. The gaffer sets us up with such clarity on how we are going to attack the game and it makes a big difference for us.”
Pot high on life.
The beaming Brighton boss says: “It was a performance I really enjoyed. The boys could feel it was a really good performance from us.
“Apart feom making their goalkeeper work more, we had everything.
“They were brilliant and have been all season. Great atmosphere. The fans appreciated the game. We didn’t sit back, we had to be positive.
2Chelsea are a fantastic side. We were up against it but I’m happy with what we have done.
“We have a nice squad, good togetherness and we are happy. The back four was sensational. They defended with great courage. It’s an art to defend the way they have done.”
Misery Ziyeched all over his face
Thomas Tuchel does not care if goal-scoring midfielder Hakim Ziyech never celebrates another finish.
The playmaker sulked after putting his team ahead.
But the Blues boss isn’t bothered by the strop.
He said: “At the moment it is difficult to be too harsh on our players as I know what is going on.
“I am happy. He can score 20 more and not celebrate I have no problem.
“Even in the reaction for the goal you can see they are tired. It is relief. That is my feeling of the team just now.”
Tuchin cloth
Thomas Tuchel has not been through a sticky patch like this for a long time.
The last time a team managed by the German went winless in four successive top flight games was in October 2016.
His old Borussia Dortmund side went 0-3-1.
Luk how easy it was
Webster adds that he and centre-back partner Dan Burn ENJOYED playing against Chelsea and Belgium superstar Romelu Lukaku.
The Englishman said: “We like the physical battles.
“Romelu Lukaku is a world-class player.
“I’d never played against him before so it was a challenge but we showed we could deal with him.”
Adam and Eve it
Goalscoring defender Adam Webster says: “I think we were the better team for most of the game.
“For 70-75 minutes we were the dominant team and on another day we get three points.
“It was about time I scored because I missed a couple at the weekend that I was disappointed with.
“The whole squad contributed tonight and we still have players out with injury so it shows we have strength in depth.”
Brighton 1 Chelsea 1
All over
Chelsea wasted a couple of corners and chances at the death.
Brighton secure another draw and Chelsea continue to lose ground on the title.
Chelsea’s blip is turning into a recurring nightmare.
Brighton 1 Chelsea 1
91 Four minutes of injury time now.
Brighton continue to press and probe before Maupay takes too many touches so his shot is blocked.
Chelsea head and hack away a couple of corners and crosses.
Cucurella continues to be brilliant in defence and attack.
Brighton 1 Chelsea 1
88 It’s basketball stuff as both sides take turns in sprinting from end-to-end on the counter.
No genuine chances, though.
Trossard and Maupay cannot unlock the visiting defence and Brighton are too compact to be breached.
Kovacic blasts over when a corner is cleared into his path.
Brighton 1 Chelsea 1
85 Brighton blame the ref for their attack breaking down.
Chelsea cry for a penalty that is ignored after Havertz throws himself to the floor very roughly.
The Blues are pouring forward now and Brighton are hanging on.
Lamptey is already being missed as an out-ball.
Brighton 1 Chelsea 1
79 Tariq Lamptey is subbed for Solly March.
Then Dan Burn gets booked fo a clumsy and forceful foul.
Tuchel makes the chancges while we wait for the free-kick; Lukaku, Jorginho and Ziyech an all hooked for Werner, Kovacic and Havertz.
Brighton 1 Chelsea 1
69 Double agony.
Neal Maupay misses a fine chance after Lamptey crosses for him and the ball gets stuck under his feet.
And a second delivery goes begging when it floats across his face and drifts out for a goal-kick.
Two chances in rapid succession wasted by Maupay
Welbeck missed a couple first and now his replacement has matched him.
Brighton 1 Chelsea 1
66 Alonso booms a long drive over the bar.
But Brighton do keep giving possession and chances away by playing out from the back.
When it works it is genius but if it fails it looks ridiculous.
Brighton 1 Chelsea 1
63 That equaliser sparks Seagulls manger Graham Potter into action.
Welbeck and Pascal Gross exit with their side now level.
Neal Maupay and Leandro Trossard get sent on to get the home side the winner.
Brighton 1 Chelsea 1
59 Webster thumps a header home!
Alonso booked for a cinical foul after Lamptey races away from him.
Then Kepa has to save after Mac Allister connects with a cross.
And Webster thumps home the corner with a bullet of a free header – poor defending from Chelsea.
Brighton 0 Chelsea 1
56 Only the bottom three and Wolves have scored fewer goals than Brighton.
But Potter has known all about this problem for a season at least.
Who knows what this impressive side could achieve with a deadly marksman leading the charge.
Brighton 0 Chelsea 1
Brighton will feel sick when the look back on these two missed opportunities.
They had the first real chance of the game but missed and let Chelsea score soon after.
And they were gifted a sitter as soon as the second half started and Welbeck blew it again.
Brighton 0 Chelsea 1
47 Welbeck shanks another left-foot chance.
A sweeping move leaves the forward one-on-one with Kepa but his weaker foot lets him down again.
The shot is sliced and slammed high and wide.
You need to take these chances against the top sides.
Credit where it’s due
Ex-Brighton boss Chris Hughton reckons his old side has been great so far.
He said: “The game is a reflection of where both teams are at the moment.
“Brighton have been excellent but the better chances have fallen to Chelsea.
“The fact Brighton are still in the game is right because they have been excellent.”
Brighton 0 Chelsea 1
Chelsea hero Joe Cole sums the difference up between the two sides; quality.
In almost every other instance the sides have been evenly matched.
But Brighton missed their best chance and Chelsea scored a goal from almost nothing.
Brighton 0 Chelsea 1
Half time
Thomas Tuchel’s side reach the interval a goal ahead.
Welbeck will feel very guilty because of the speed with which Chelsea scored after his gilt-edged chance was fluffed.
But Brighton are masters of the late goal so will not lose hope.
Brighton 0 Chelsea 1
45 Brighton remain impressive as a team – with Lamptey and Cucurella able to destroy and create.
But – in those two crucial moments at either end – Chelsea showed their class and Brighton’s infamous shortcoming was exposed again.
Hudson Odoi blasts over after a Lukaku pass before Brighton race away to earn a corner.
Brighton 0 Chelsea 1
38 Brighton keep huffing and puffing but Chelsea’s defence is made of Antonio Rudiger.
Surely the Blues will buckle and pay whatever insane wage he wants at the end of this season when his contract expires?
There is a queue of clubs to snap him up otherwise.
Brighton 0 Chelsea 1
36 Same old story for Brighton; lots of solid defending and clever attacks but not enough cutting edge in front of goal.
Welbeck had to do better from a couple of yards – even on his weaker foot.
Fine margins look like costing the Seagulls tonight.
Brighton 0 Chelsea 1
32 Brighton will be gutted because they created a better chance seconds earlier.
Welbeck made a hash of a left foot shot from close-range.
Ziyech then had no right to score from 25 yards but fired past a stranded Sanchez.
Ruthless from the visiting Blues.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
