Chelsea suffered a fifth defeat in a row in the Premier League without scoring a goal as brilliant Brighton went above them into sixth in the table with a fully deserved 3-0 win that piled the pressure on Liam Rosenior.
The hosts were dominant from the very start and led from the third minute when Ferdi Kadioglu thrashed following a corner, with Jack Hinshelwood, who had earlier missed an open goal, doubling their lead on the counter-attack after half-time. Danny Welbeck came off the bench to add a third in stoppage time.
But Chelsea, who were without the injured Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, were woeful. Rosenior tweaked his system but abandoned his back-three after a one-sided first half. Chelsea have lost five league games in a row without scoring for the first time in 114 years.
The defeat all but spells the end of Chelsea’s top-five hopes, while they could drop into the bottom half of the table by their next Premier League game. Rosenior now faces a crunch FA Cup semi-final against in-form rivals Leeds at Wembley on Sunday.
“Chelsea have been pumped tonight, they were pathetic and are going backwards,” former striker Chris Sutton said on Sky Sports. “The Chelsea players chucked it, they really did and their players have a of of thinking to and where do they go next?”
Follow all the action below.
Where do Chelsea go next?
It’s a FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United on Sunday at Wembley. Leeds have won back-to-back games and will be full of confidence. Chelsea had no fight, no spirit, no ideas tonight. Leeds will be up for it, that’s for sure.
Does Rosenior even get to Sunday?
Chelsea’s 114-year low: Five defeats in a row without scoring
L: Brighton (a) – 0-3
L: Man Utd (h) – 0-1
L: Man City (h) – 0-3
L: Everton (a) – 0-3
L: Newcastle (h) – 0-1
FULL TIME! Brighton 3-0 Chelsea
Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, on Sky Sports: “Chelsea have been pumped tonight, they were pathetic and are going backwards. The Chelsea players chucked it, they really did and their players have a of of thinking to and where do they go next?”
FULL TIME! Brighton 3-0 Chelsea
The Chelsea players are standing like statues in front of the few away fans who have stayed at the Amex. They look stunned. The away fans who have remained are telling them just how they feel.
Chelsea have lost five top-flight games in a row without scoring for the first time since 1912.
114 years!
FULL TIME! Brighton 3-0 Chelsea
Brighton go above Chelsea into the sixth. They were excellent.
Where to even begin with Chelsea…
Brighton 3-0 Chelsea
90+3 mins: “Can we play you every week” sing the home fans.
Brighton are about to do the double over Chelsea.
GOAL! Brighton 3-0 Chelsea (WELBECK 90+1)
Danny Welbeck comes off the bench to make it 3-0! A cherry on the cake for Brighton, on what has been a brilliant night for them.
It gets worse for Chelsea. That was such a simple goal.
Brighton 2-0 Chelsea
86 mins: I’ve lost count of the amount of time Chelsea have passed the ball straight out of play. This has been one of the poorest performances from a Premier League team that I can remember.
Brighton 2-0 Chelsea
84 mins: Welbeck and Ayari are on for Brighton and Ayari gets a chance at the back post, but takes a heavy touch.
