Chelsea’s underwhelming recent form has seen them lose four successive PL games while failing to score a single goal. However, in most of those games, they had at least been competitive, which could not be said of the first half against a hungry Brighton outfit.
The Seagulls required less than two minutes to test Robert Sanchez as the Spaniard pushed Kauro Mitoma’s close-range header over the crossbar, and they were in front from the resulting corner.
Jorrel Hato’s mistimed clearance inadvertently flicked the ball to Ferdi Kadioglu, whose shot deflected off Wesley Fofana and into the back of the net.
With the wind now in Brighton’s sails, they toyed with their opponents and subsequently had a host of further chances. Jan Paul van Hecke forced Sanchez into another fingertip stop, shortly before Georginio Rutter curled past the post.
Only Jack Hinshelwood knows how he didn’t double his side’s advantage midway through the half, after a misplaced Sanchez pass allowed Yankuba Minteh to square for the midfielder before Trevoh Chalobah cleared off the line.
As half-time approached, Chelsea improved ever-so slightly, but not enough to muster a shot on target, doing little to appease the travelling supporters who voiced their displeasure.
The visitors finally managed their first shot in the 47th minute, when Romeo Lavia fired over.
Before long, though, their comeback task got even harder when Brighton broke from a Chelsea attack and found the back of the net through Hinshelwood, who atoned for his previous error.
Mitoma was next to go close, volleying past the post from a corner as Brighton looked to rub salt in Liam Rosenior and Co.'s wounds.
Kadioglu had two opportunities to complete his brace, but Sanchez was equal to them both this time.
In the end, this was as comfortable a win as Brighton could have hoped for, one that boosts their own chances of qualifying for Europe next term, and they added extra gloss to the scoreline when substitute Danny Welbeck guided home in the injury time.
They deserved plenty of credit, having now won six of their past eight PL matches, but the scrutiny will once again be on Chelsea. They have now lost five PL games in a row for the first time since 1993, and have not failed to score in as many in 114 years.
On Sunday, they will at least have the distraction of an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United at Wembley, but whether Rosenior – who was the subject of expletive-ridden chants in the second period – is still in charge remains to be seen.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton)
