EPL: Brighton thrash Chelsea as Blues suffer fifth straight loss

Brighton & Hove Albion defeated Chelsea FC 3-0 on Tuesday night, extending the visitors’ run to five straight Premier League defeats without scoring.

According to a post-match report on the club’s website, it is a run not seen since 1912. It is also the club’s fifth consecutive league loss since 1993.

Brighton took control early and maintained it throughout.

Ferdi Kadioglu opened the scoring inside four minutes, Jack Hinshelwood added a second after the break, and Danny Welbeck scored in stoppage time to complete the result.

Chelsea struggled to create chances and rarely threatened, while Brighton remained organised and made use of key moments to extend their lead.

The result affects the race for European places as Brighton move into sixth, while Chelsea drop further behind at a crucial stage of the season.

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The visitors have now lost five league games in a row without scoring.

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior did not hold back after the match.

He said, “By far. It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game, unacceptable in our attitude. I keep coming out and defending of the players. That’s indefensible, that performance tonight.

“The manner of the goals we conceded, the amount of duels that we lost, the lack of intensity in the team. Something needs to change drastically right now.

“We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. But I can’t keep coming out here and defending some of the things we’re seeing. Manchester United, genuinely the result wasn’t there, I felt we turned a corner.

“The general attitude, spirit, and determination was lacking apart from maybe three or four of the eleven. That is nowhere near enough for this club. I can’t come out and lie. I’ll tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance in every area.

“The goal’s terrible, we have an easy header, we miss the header. The passage before the goal upset me even more. I think there were four or five occasions where we can actually show some courage and quality, and take the ball down and actually play.

“We just kicked the ball back to Brighton. You can speak about a lack of confidence or results not going our way, that doesn’t represent anything that I ever want to see. And I won’t ever see it again.”

The defeat leaves Chelsea under pressure in the race for a top-five finish.

They remain in seventh place, seven points behind Liverpool FC.

Supporters voiced their frustration during and after the match, following a recent defeat to Manchester United. There were also chants directed at the club’s ownership.

Brighton’s win lifts them above Chelsea in the table and strengthens their push for European qualification.

Chelsea turn their focus to the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday, where they face Leeds United.