Brighton and Hove Albion spoiled Chelsea boss Frank Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge with a 2-1 win on Saturday as substitutes Danny Welbeck and Julio Enchizo ruled their third loss in three games under their interim coach.
Lampard, who rested several key players ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid, at least witnessed Chelsea score the first goal of his second spell in charge when Conor Gallagher’s shot was deflected off Robert Sanchez by Brighton in the 13th minute. .
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)
But the visitors, led by manager Roberto De Zerbi, were the side’s better side for long periods, forcing Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to make a good save and hit the crossbar before they equalized when Welbeck pressed between two defenders to head wide off the post in the 42nd minute, shortly after coming on. .
The Seagulls got the second goal they deserved when Paraguay’s Enchizo scored an unstoppable volley from 25 yards in the 69th minute, boosting Brighton’s hopes of European football for the first time in their history next season.
“It is important that we try to collect as many points as possible,” Welbeck told the BBC. “With confidence in the team, we know we can go anywhere and cause trouble.”
Brighton crushed Chelsea 4-1 in October, a result that led to a decline in the performance of the London team that led to the dismissal of Graham Potter this month as coach, six months after he fired the Blues – and four others from behind the scenes. Staff – from the south coast, replacing Thomas Tuchel.
Brighton fans celebrated the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs, welcoming the extravagantly assembled Chelsea players with chants of “what a waste of money” before kick-off while Chelsea’s American owner Todd Boyley stood from the stands.
The result left Brighton seventh in the Premier League, five points behind Liverpool. They are also in the FA Cup semi-finals, where they face Manchester United next weekend.
Chelsea are still stuck in 11th place with their only hope of securing any silverware this season depending on their ability to reverse a 2-0 deficit against European champions Real Madrid at home on Tuesday.
Saturday’s defeat followed a 1-0 defeat away to Wolves in Lampard’s first return as caretaker manager last weekend and a failed visit to the Spanish capital in the middle of the week.
“I’m disappointed on every level,” Chelsea’s all-time top scorer told the BBC. The best team won. They could have won more than that. They played as a team.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Lampard added: “He was the most deserving [defeat]. I think for now, more than defeating her performance we have to talk about because wins only come with performance. In terms of which performance was the most disappointing, we were pretty well beaten.
“They’re a really good Brighton team, so you have to give them a lot of credit. They’re a great team and they can play like that against any team in the league.
“We were short, short yard, short tackle. When that’s not right, you don’t win games. You have to have the ability to do that too, the moment we fall short and we have to turn it around quickly.”
Information from Leon Ember is included in this report.
“Award-winning social media nerd. Food specialist. Amateur entrepreneur. Pop culture maven. Subtly charming explorer.”