<\/p>\n
Has anyone told Chelsea they can win football matches without making life hard for themselves on the pitch?<\/strong><\/p>\n Having capitulated last time out against Newcastle United, Chelsea threatened to do the same this weekend when new foes Brighton & Hove Albion came to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, conceding a goal and seeing their captain sent off inside the final minutes of the first half of the\u00a03-2 victory.<\/p>\n We should have seen the chaos coming, really. Suspensions to Reece James and Marc Cucurella, coupled with an injury to Malo Gusto, left Chelsea without a natural right-back and Mauricio Pochettino would respond by naming four centre-backs across his entire defence.<\/p>\n 4 cbs starting for Chelsea what is this \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\u2014 Josh Greiner (@Joshgreiner1)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Criminal how Maatsen STILL can\u2019t get a game at LB!!! We\u2019ll struggle today playing 4 Centre backs \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\u2014 Ant0ni0 P (@Antoni0P89)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n 4 centre backs across the back 4. We\u2019ve gone full Tony Pulis\u2019s Stoke..\u2014 Adam Reilly (@adsreilly)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Things actually started fairly well for Chelsea and there were few complaints when Pochettino\u2019s men squeezed themselves ahead after 17 minutes.<\/p>\n With their skyscraper defenders all up in the Brighton box, a corner was acrobatically recycled by Benoit Badiashile and perfectly on to the head of Enzo Fernandez, who leapt highest to score his first Premier League goal.<\/p>\n Enzo\u2019s first prem goal \ud83e\udd7a\ud83e\udd7a\u2014 maqhawe \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udde9 (@only_maqhawe)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n ENZO FIRST CHELSEA PREM GOAL !!!!!!\ud83e\udd45 BADIASHILE WITH A WORLDCLASS ASSIST\u2014 neo chicken (@mira_jamesbest)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n What an assist by Badiashile\ud83d\ude0dEnzo first PL goal LEEEESGOOOOOO\u2014 PaLMerSZN\ud83e\udd77\ud83c\udfff (@dijon_hz)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Just four minutes later and Chelsea would have their second. Levi Colwill, the former Brighton loanee, headed home at the back post and immediately started celebrating his first Chelsea goal before remembering he wanted to show respect to his former employers.<\/p>\n Colwill for a moment there forgot he used to play for Brighton \ud83d\ude02\u2014 \ud83e\udd3a (@McMwiti)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Colwill was about to go crazy then he remembered. \ud83e\udd23\u2014 Hoore Manga (@Ismou008_)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Hahahaha Colwill scoring his first Chelsea goal against Brighton is perfect \ud83e\udd23\u2014 Harry (@Harry_White96)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n It wasn\u2019t always simple for\u00a0Chelsea, who appeared to be doing their utmost to invite Brighton back into the game with some poor play at the back.<\/p>\n First, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez let a pass slip under his studs and had to race to stop the ball crossing his line, before the Blues defence were pressed into oblivion and could have easily ceded possession three or four times.<\/p>\n can we stop giving the ball to sanchez his boots have bloody butter on them\u2014 Axy ( Taylors Version ) (@chaennieXcheeks)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Then the chaos began.<\/p>\n Facundo Buonanotte weaved his way through the Chelsea defence and curled home an excellent goal<\/p>\n Facundo Buonanotte!! Silly goal that \ud83d\udd25\u2014 D O N-C O R L E O N E\ud83e\udd77\ud83c\udfff\u26b1\ufe0f (@wickidest_skeng)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n fairs, good goal from buonanotte\u2014 Olly #WillSurviveChilwell (@BroadbandBanner)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Then Conor Gallagher, wearing the captain\u2019s armband as a result of Reece James\u2019 suspension for two yellow cards, picked up a second yellow of his own and slumped over to the tunnel shortly before half-time<\/p>\n Gallagher that\u2019s unnecessary!\u2014 \u00c0r\u00e1k\u00f9nr\u00edn B\u00edm (@Mista_Bim)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n I see Gallagher has chosen to emulate Reece James\u2014 K1ngpin (@K1ngpin__)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Why do you make that tackle on a yellow card, Gallagher? What an idiot. Lavia can\u2019t come back soon enough.\u2014 Alex Lyon (@LyonAlexander)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n pic.twitter.com\/OB7iRI0n81<\/a>\u2014 Out of Context Football Manager (@nocontextfm1)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Mauricio Pochettino was absolutely spot on when he said we\u2019re our own worst enemies.<\/p>\n Can\u2019t keep doing this. It\u2019s mental.\u00a0#CFC<\/a>\u2014 Olivia Buzaglo (@OliviaBuzaglo)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Moises Caicedo seemed determined to join Gallagher in the dressing room. Having already picked up a yellow earlier in the game, the Ecuador international was flying into challenges and definitely unleashed at least one which was worthy of an early bath<\/p>\n Someone tell Caicedo he\u2019s on a yellow\u2014 Karl \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea (@CFC_Karl)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Craig Pawson just did Caicedo a massive favor there. Could easily have been a second yellow. Low IQ players everywhere\u2014 N (@Nino12x)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Why is Caicedo flying into challenges like that whilst on a yellow?\u2014 TweetChelseaUK (@TweetChelseaUK)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n But against the run of play, Chelsea were handed a lifeline.<\/p>\n Mykhailo Mudryk led a counter attack and went racing into the box, with the ageing James Milner in pursuit. Milner appeared to simply overpower the Ukraine international but may have caught him with a dangling foot as Mudryk was already heading to ground.<\/p>\n No penalty was awarded initially but a VAR review ultimately prompted the official to award a spot-kick.<\/p>\n Penalty ??\ud83d\udc80 that\u2019s not a penalty tbh but I\u2019ll take it\u2014 Serge McCarthy (@SergeMccarthy)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n lol that wasn\u2019t a penalty but nice thank you\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffe\u2014 Shifty\ud83e\udeac (@CFCShifty)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n How is this a penalty ? Premier league refs are always funny\u2014 Radick07\ud83e\udd77 (@_radick07)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Up stepped Fernandez to restore Chelsea\u2019s breathing room.<\/p>\n ITS ENZO\u2019S WORLD WE\u2019RE JUST LIVING IN IT\u2014 \ud835\udd5b\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd6b\ud835\udd6b\ud81a\udd10 (@cestjazz)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n It wouldn\u2019t be Chelsea if things ended smoothly, however.<\/p>\n Joao Pedro headed home from a corner in the second minute of ten added on at the end of things, setting up a nervy finale.<\/p>\n You see ten mins added on \u2013 these chelsea players shiver in their boots and the pressure sets in\u2014 BlueBlood (@BlueBloodSw6)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Chelsea always fold under pressure\u2014 Tobiloba (@Mroluwatobiloba)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n joa pedro is a world class playeer i don\u2019t care\u2014 Abdi \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf4 (@Abditsover)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n As the clocked ticked over to 100, Brighton were awarded their own penalty when Colwill was accused of handball, but an on-field review was suggested as the ball clearly struck the Chelsea\u2019s defender\u2019s head.<\/p>\n Chelsea fans starter pack\u00a0pic.twitter.com\/6vmHYnceTe<\/a>\u2014 Bumblebee\ud83d\udc1d (@BMBlebEE_)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Life as a Chelsea fan\u00a0pic.twitter.com\/EfmVf3RbWr<\/a>\u2014 Saaka (@medSaaka)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n There was some uncertainty about the final decision as the crowd felt the referee had once again awarded a penalty, but ultimately, things were sorted out and Chelsea were allowed to see out the game.<\/p>\n YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS\u2014 TweetChelseaUK (@TweetChelseaUK)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n never make it easy do we \ud83e\udd23\u2014 Ella\u2b50\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f (@ChelseaElla2)\u00a0December 3, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n