Chelsea boosts European hopes with victory at Brighton despite Reece James red | first division

Maybe Mauricio Pochettino is right after all? A fourth consecutive victory thanks to Cole Palmer's 27th goal of the season and another from substitute Christopher Nkunku was the latest sign that Chelsea They are gaining pace on the road to recovery despite a meaningless late red card for captain Reece James.

Pochettino's side are now within striking distance of securing some form of European football for next season, and there is even a chance of beating Tottenham for fifth place if they claim victory in their final game of the season against Bournemouth on Sunday. It has been a notable turnaround from the record 5-0 thrashing of Arsenal a few weeks ago, with Palmer and Nkunku, who celebrated his goal in just his 11th league game after joining for £52m last summer, blow up a blue balloon. , giving a tantalizing glimpse of what this team might one day be capable of.

Roberto De Zerbi's team were defeated despite a late consolation from Danny Welbeck. The only negative for Pochettino was James' sending off less than 20 minutes after coming off the bench for kicking João Pedro to the ground after tangling with the Brazilian and the incident was detected by VAR.

“It's difficult to give my opinion because I didn't see it. Maybe it's his frustration,” said the Chelsea coach. “It's painful because it was a fantastic night of football and he is our captain and a really important player. I am disappointed because now he will miss our next game and maybe some games next season.”

Brighton's hopes of returning to Europe may have long since faded, but there was still plenty at stake for their fans, who enthusiastically booed the names of Marc Cucurella and Moisés Caicedo every time they touched the ball. They were just two of 11 players or staff to leave the south coast for Stamford Bridge, culminating in the departure of head of recruitment Sam Jewell in February. Brighton looked determined to excel in their final home game of an up-and-down campaign that has been undermined by a series of serious injuries after selling their midfield engine room last summer. But in the end De Zerbi had to admit that his team took too long to respond after being two goals behind.

It was an unforgettable night for referee Michael Salisbury, whose decision to award a first-half penalty (after Facundo Buonanotte challenged Cucurella inside the penalty area) was overturned on the recommendation of VAR on the day it was announced that the clubs of the Premier League will vote if the system is scrapped for the next season. But De Zerbi was left baffled by the lack of VAR intervention when Malo Gusto appeared to foul Simon Adingra early in the second half.

“We have to talk about the level of referees as we do about the level of coaches,” said the Brighton boss. “I didn't like the referee today, I didn't like his control of the game. I regret the red card to James because it was a normal reaction. If you have played football, then it can happen.”

De Zerbi admitted this week that he had tried to sign Palmer from Manchester City in the summer, so his involvement in Chelsea's first game was inevitable. Cucurella found space on the left and delivered a perfect cross. The England striker managed to deflect his deft header off Bart Verbruggen's desperate dive, much to the clear delight of Pochettino.

There was some concern for the Chelsea boss when Mykhailo Mudryk needed treatment following a clash with Tariq Lamptey, and the Ukrainian striker was eventually replaced by Nkunku after Pochettino confirmed he was feeling “a bit dizzy”. Jackson had a header ruled out for offside nine minutes into first-half stoppage time before João Pedro was unlucky to see his header bounce off the crossbar in the closest Brighton had come to finding a great advance.

The lively Nkunku and Gusto went close for Chelsea after the break, but only Pascal Gross will know how he managed not to direct his volley from three yards after another Lamptey cross while De Zerbi protested to the fourth official about another decision. Chelsea were a threat at the break as Brighton pushed forward for an equaliser, although the second came from a brilliant move down the right flank initiated by Noni Madueke, with Gusto providing the cut-back for Nkunku to score his first goal since January.

With his team on course for victory, Pochettino will be scratching his head as to what happened to James later, with the defender now facing a four-match suspension after recently returning from injury. Adingra hit a post in stoppage time with a volley as Brighton tried to rally before Welbeck scored from João Pedro's cross. But it was too late for a comeback and Chelsea will arrive this weekend with everything at stake.