Brighton and Hove Albion moved into sixth place in the Premier League with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Chelsea, piling more pressure on the visitors after another poor outing.
The hosts made a dream start when Ferdi Kadioglu fired them ahead inside the opening three minutes, stunning Chelsea early at the Amex Stadium. Brighton continued to dominate and doubled their advantage through Jack Hinshelwood in the second half before veteran striker Danny Welbeck added a third to seal a commanding win.
The defeat leaves Chelsea seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool in the race for European qualification, while Brighton strengthened their own hopes of securing a continental place next season.
Chelsea’s struggles in front of goal deepened further, with the Blues now losing five consecutive league matches without scoring for the first time since 1912. The latest setback is likely to intensify scrutiny on the team’s poor form as the season enters its decisive stage.
Oluwagbemisola Babalola
