Chelsea held on to take the three points against Brighton and Hove Albion despite being reduced to 10 men in the first half following Conor Gallagher’s dismissal for two bookable offences.
A brace from previous British-transfer record signing Enzo Fernandez, along with a goal from former Brighton loanee Levi Colwill saw the Blues come away from Stamford Bridge with three mich needed points.
There was late drama as Chelsea thought that Brighton would be handed a penalty with the last kick of the game, but with Craig Pawson sent to the monitor he realised that the ball clearly came off Colwill’s head, not hand.
The victory takes Mauricio Pochettino‘s side up to 10th in the table, but they are still 10 points off the top four. It will be quite an achievement if they end up playing Champions League football next season.
Mail Sport’s Kathryn Batte takes a look at some of things you may have missed from the match at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Fernandez (left) scored twice as Chelsea held on to beat Brighton at Stamford Bridge
Levi Colwill (left in blue) netted against his former side, who he spent last season with on loan
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino (right) was left angry at the full time whistle once again
Like London buses
Fernandez waited 31 games for his first Premier League goal before scoring twice against Brighton.
The £106.8million midfielder headed in his first goal from his 43rd attempt in the competition before scoring a second from the penalty spot.
Before yesterday’s game, he had taken more shots than any player without a goal in the Premier League this season.
The curse of the captain
Gallagher’s first half red card means Chelsea have now had their captains sent off in back-to-back fixtures.
Gallagher was given his marching orders just before the break after receiving two yellow cards for poor tackles.
He was wearing the armband in the absence of Reece James, who was sat in the stands after his red card against Newcastle last weekend.
Following in the footsteps
It has been a while since the No 8 and No 26 have scored in the same game for Chelsea. Levi Colwill (26) was on target along with Fernandez (8).
Those numbers were of course once occupied by John Terry and Frank Lampard.
Gallagher’s red card means Chelsea have now had captains sent off in back-to-back fixtures
It has been a while since the No 8 and No 26 have scored in the same game for Chelsea. Blues legends John Terry (left) and Frank Lampard (right) used to sport the jerseys in west London
Sanchez gets the last laugh
Of all the former Brighton players in the Chelsea ranks it was goalkeeper Robert Sanchez who received the most abuse from the travelling fans.
Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill seemed to be left alone but Sanchez was not so lucky. The goalkeeper left the Seagulls in a £25million deal after falling out of favour with boss Roberto de Zerbi.
Sanchez was subject to less than complimentary chanting from his former fans from start to finish but had the last laugh as he gave a mocking wave to the away section as he walked off the pitch at full-time.
