Add as preferred source on Google
If Chelsea’s top-five hopes were dwindling going into Tuesday night’s clash against Brighton, then Ferdi Kadioglu’s third-minute goal might have ended them as Liam Rosenior looked on in disbelief.
Chelsea travelled to the south coast in disarray. Liam Rosenior boasts the second-worst record of any Chelsea manager in the Premier League era, with former Brighton boss Graham Potter the worst.
Six defeats in seven games saw the likes of Paul Merson predict a Brighton win on Tuesday night. Then, pre-match news of Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro being ruled out made things a whole lot worse.
CONFIRMED Chelsea XI vs Brighton
No Cole Palmer!
Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
The return of Trevoh Chalobah might have been celebrated by those in the away end, but having the likes of Palmer, Reece James, Levi Colwill, and Pedro all missing is now being felt by Rosenior and the fans.
What the Chelsea fans sang at Liam Rosenior early on
One thing Rosenior will have hoped for will have been an early start against a side he played more than 50 times during his playing career. Rosenior also began his coaching career while at The Amex.
Yet, Kadioglu opened the scoring inside three minutes, as Brighton dominated the early proceedings. Rosenior projected a forlorn figure on the sidelines, watching a Brighton side pick apart his Chelsea team.
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
According to Sky Sports, the away end was in full voice despite their side going behind early on. Yet, it wasn’t in hope they might spark a comeback from Chelsea: “We want our Chelsea back.”
Brighton could have doubled their lead inside the first 20 minutes, too. Georginio Rutter might have done better and then Jack Hinshelwood had a gilt-edged chance after a Robert Sanchez mistake, but missed.
Tim Sherwood hammers Jorrel Hato’s role in Brighton goal
It was dismal from the first minute. Chelsea were making mistake after mistake and realistically, the Blues were lucky not to be behind by three or four goals at the break. Rosenior is hanging on by a tiny thread.
What is Chelsea’s best centre-back partnership?
That was before Brighton’s opener!
Kadioglu’s goal came from a Brighton corner, another cross in which Chelsea have conceded. Hato’s near-post header worked as a flick on for Kadioglu, who bundled the ball home via a Chalobah deflection.
Tim Sherwood was watching the game for Sky Sports, and he hammered the Dutch defender for his role in the goal: “Hato’s header at the near post for the goal is so bad. It skims off the near post header.”
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
