There are methods to react to taking place to 10. Some managers resolve assault is the perfect type of defence, however Enzo Maresca has twice gone within the different course. Chelsea's head coach made a baffling name throughout final Saturday's loss to Manchester United, responding to Robert Sánchez's early purple card by eradicating too many offensive gamers, and it was lower than encouraging to see Maresca resolve there was no cause to tweak his method when his stuttering aspect discovered themselves at a numerical drawback towards Brighton.
The frustration from the followers was audible as Chelsea fell again after Trevoh Chalobah was despatched off early within the second half. Defensive gamers had been launched when Andrey Santos, Estêvão and Pedro Neto had been sacrificed. Maresca had attacking choices, however ignored Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Tyrique George.
He was out of substitution home windows and unable to deliver on a ahead after Brighton, whose substitutions had been way more constructive and influential, took a 2-1 lead when Maxim de Cuyper scored his first aim for the membership throughout stoppage time.
It was a strategic error. The rumblings of discontent at Chelsea are rising louder. They've taken one level for the reason that worldwide break and have misplaced at residence within the league for the primary time since December. Chalobah's dismissal for the denial of an apparent goalscoring alternative means Chelsea's solely choices in central defence for subsequent Saturday's go to by Liverpool are Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong and Benoît Badiashile – assuming Maresca doesn't resolve to deliver Axel Disasi out of chilly storage.
It's value remembering that Maresca didn't precisely conceal his need for a brand new centre-back after shedding Levi Colwill to a long-term knee damage. His bosses disagreed. By the way, Behdad Eghbali, Chelsea's co-owner, was joined by the recruitment crew in taking place the tunnel after full time.
Had been they heading for the house or away dressing room? Off to signal extra Brighton gamers? This was candy for Brighton. The celebrations had been wild when Danny Welbeck's second aim made it 3-1.
Brighton have misplaced so many gamers and executives to Chelsea through the previous three years. The enmity has grown. Brighton cherished their third consecutive victory over Chelsea. The one fear for Tony Bloom, Brighton's proprietor, could be that Chelsea reply to this end result by coming for one among his gamers. A defender, maybe?
“Within the Premier League you can not give away presents,” Maresca mentioned. “We have to study shortly.”
Maresca transmits frustration. Constructing on profitable the Membership World Cup has been tougher than anticipated. Chelsea are usually not clicking and the accidents are piling up. Cole Palmer is out for 3 weeks with a groin damage and the issues on the again had been exacerbated when Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana had been dominated out of this recreation.
Time to make use of that deep squad. Hato, the 19-year-old Dutch defender, joined Chalobah in central defence and there was a primary league begin for Santos, whose preliminary drive in midfield was central to Chelsea's early dominance.
It was not a shock after they led after 24 minutes, Moises Caicedo releasing Reece James on the correct and the captain delivering for Enzo Fernández to move in his third aim of the season. “Chelsea dominated,” Brighton's supervisor, Fabian Hürzeler, mentioned. “After the aim the whole lot modified. We performed with extra braveness.”
Chelsea, who lined up with 4 former Brighton gamers, dipped after half-time. The momentum shifted when James, who drained at right-back, went off for remedy after jarring his knee. A mixup adopted, Santos inadvertently poking the ball to Diego Gómez, who was via on aim and simply exterior the realm when he was introduced down by Chalobah.
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Simon Hooper, the referee, was having such a foul recreation that it required him to verify the pitchside monitor to substantiate Chalobah needed to be despatched off. Brighton stirred. Maresca threw on Acheampong, Malo Gusto, Roméo Lavia and Badiashile. The stress grew. Hürzeler launched Welbeck and moved the excellent Yankuba Minteh to the left flank.
Confronted by no counterattacks, Brighton pushed up and probed. Minteh and Welbeck missed probabilities. Finally they mixed, Minteh dancing previous Gusto and crossing for Welbeck to move within the equaliser.
Gusto, Maresca mentioned, was on to assist James cope with Minteh. Nothing labored for Chelsea and their composure disappeared. There was a brawl after Brighton appealed for a penalty.
Brighton led when Yasin Ayari's cross led to 2 substitutes combining, Mats Wieffer heading throughout for De Cuyper to attain.
Wanting attacking shops, Chelsea folded. It was over when Welbeck danced via and lifted a shot over Sánchez. Maresca has issues to unravel.
