Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 Chelsea: Premier League result as Seagulls school Blues in crucial clash for European football

Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck were on target as Brighton & Hove Albion comfortably beat Chelsea 3-0 at Amex Stadium on Tuesday to leapfrog The Blues into sixth place.

The defeat was Chelsea’s fifth Premier League loss in a row, while they have now gone five successive games in the division without scoring - breaking a run that stretches back 114 years.

Liam Rosenior’s side have capitulated in recent weeks, and have surely waved goodbye to any chance of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next campaign. Having played a game more than those around them, The Blues could drop as low as 11th by Saturday night.

The game could not have started better for Brighton, who scored within three minutes through Kadioglu’s effort - his first of the season - as he lashed the ball beyond Robert Sanchez from a corner.

Chelsea were lucky to be just one goal behind at the break, but it did not take long for Brighton to double their lead when Hinshelwood slotted home excellently 10 minutes into the second half.

The Blues hardly threatened the Brighton goal, and Welbeck came off the bench to smash a third beyond Sanchez in added time to add gloss to the scoreline.

Brighton take on Newcastle United next as they look to strengthen their grip on the UEFA Europa League spot, while Chelsea will look to reboot their desperate attempt to secure European football at home to Nottingham Forest.

The Seagulls have schooled The Blues tonight and it takes them above Liam Rosenior's side - who are on a historically bad run.

That's five defeats in a row in the league...

There have already been two minutes played of the four added.

And that seals it!

Welbeck runs onto the ball just outside the six-yard box and smashes the ball home after some more really questionable Chelsea defending.

He does it again off the bench as he does so often!

This is job done for Brighton, who are just knocking the ball around like it's a training session now.

They'll move up to sixth after another good day at the office - they're now five unbeaten in the league with four wins and a draw!

Sky Sports has just informed us that if Chelsea fail to score here, it will be the first time in 114 years that they have gone five successive league games without scoring.

This will be their fifth league defeat on the bounce.

On comes Danny Welbeck.

Chelsea fans are leaving in their droves... the away end behind the goal on the right looks half empty.

And there are still over 10 minutes plus added time to play. That tells you all you need to know about this Chelsea performance.

He cuts in from the right before fizzing an effort wide of the far post.

He's had two of Chelsea's four shots since coming off the bench at half-time.

Marc Guiu has also come off the bench for Liam Delap.

A reminder that this result would take Brighton above Chelsea and into sixth place, which would be enough for UEFA Europa League football next season.

Brighton have only qualified once for Europe in their history - the 2023/24 edition of the Europa League which saw them exit at the last 16 stage.

Another positive Brighton attack sees the ball fall to the feet of Gross in the box, who strikes with venom only for Malo Gusto to block his effort on the line.

They could have had four or five tonight. Chelsea have been poor, but Brighton have been excellent and they're staking their claim for a place in Europe!

This time it's a long-range effort, as the defender lets fly with a powerful shot outside the box as Sanchez gets across to the near post well to deny him once more.

Kadioglu bolts forward from the left and drives into the box, before looking to steer the ball beyond Sanchez at the back post which the Chelsea goalkeeper saves.

He takes the ball out of the air before knocking it over Neto, juggling it briefly before firing just over the bar.

It was almost a world-class finish!

It is looking like it will be ONE Premier League win in NINE for Chelsea, who have well and truly damaged their chances of Champions League football next season.

Perhaps beyond repair?

He got away with the handball, and rightly so, but he doesn't get away with this one as he's late on Cucurella and goes into the book.

Brighton double their lead!

Chelsea want a penalty as the ball pops up from Garnacho and onto Minteh's arm, but it looks accidental. Brighton fly down the other end through Rutter, who slips in Hinshelwood to steer beyond Sanchez with ease.

The hosts lead by two goals!

A cross comes in from the right and Cucurella blocks it, but looks to lean in with his arm.

Referee Craig Pawson is not interested, and neither is VAR.

Brighton have a good chance to double their lead, but Mitoma pulls a low shot wide to the left of Sanchez's goal.