Jackson helps ease a little pressure on Pochettino as Blues beat Brighton
ON TARGET: Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson celebrates with teammates after scoring their sides first goal during the Carabao Cup third round match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Wednesday September 27, 2023.
The pressure eased on Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea progressed into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a slender win courtesy of Nicolas Jackson's second goal for the club. It was a classy finish worthy of a £32m summer signing and possibly priceless for his under-fire manager.
It took until the second half to make the breakthrough and secure a place in the last 16, but it was worth the wait. Fellow close season recruit Cole Palmer received the ball on the half turn on the edge of the box and found Jackson in space. The Senegalese striker calmly slotted the ball beyond Bart Verbruggen and that was enough to seal a first win for the Blues since a 3-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon in the previous round.
Chelsea started the game with a spring in their step as Mykhailo Mudryk tested Verbruggen with an effort after just two minutes. Brighton stifled Chelsea's early pressure as Ansu Fati and Kaoru Mitoma began to link up on Brighton's left. Joao Pedro was inches away from getting on the end of the cross. The game had a chaotic feel to it in the opening exchanges, with both sides not afraid to sit back.
A huge chance fell Brighton's way in the 23rd minute. Robert Sanchez carelessly played the ball straight into Joao Pedro's path, but the Brazilian delicately chipped the ball over the bar. He had all the time in the world but tried to be cute, and it did not pay off. A huge let-off for Chelsea.
Chelsea were playing with fire at the back as ten minutes later Brighton's high press forced another defensive error from the hosts. Carlos Baleba wrestled the ball off former Brighton man Moises Caicedo, but Fati couldn't convert from inside the box. Sanchez got down low and made a vital save. The already twitchy home crowd were not impressed with Chelsea's sloppiness at the back.
Chelsea's best moment of the first half fell in stoppage time, when Mudryk latched onto a loose ball and slid a cross into the path of Cole Palmer who clever flicked effort went past the post. A first half that saw Brighton pose the bigger threats to the hosts, with Chelsea looking disjointed at both ends of the pitch.
Chelsea scored the opening goal on 51 minutes. Palmer swivelled on the turn outside the box and poked it through to Jackson who diverted a low shot into the corner. A goal against the run of play.
The hosts ramped up their pursuit of a first win since late August, and Jackson should have added his second just after the hour mark. The ball was slipped into his path via a deflection and the striker raced through on goal, but Verbruggen was quick off his goal line and blocked the shot and Brighton were off the hook. He soon had the ball in the net again, but he was denied by the offside flag. He was proving to be a handful for Brighton.
Brighton should have been level on 73 minutes. A swinging cross reached substitute Solly March who found himself free at the back post. His powerful header was well saved by Robert Sanchez. The former Brighton shot-stopper was making amends for his earlier errors.
Brighton kept knocking on the Chelsea door has Pervis Estupinan flashed a ball across the box, with nobody on the end of it as the game entered into seven minutes of added time. Joao Pedro had a huge chance two minutes into added time but his volley just sailed over the bar.
Chelsea held on for a morale-boosting win, but ended the game with ten men as Chilwell limped off with an injury.
Sanchez 6 Cucurella 6, Colwill 7, Disasi 6, Chilwell 6, Maatsen 6, (Gallagher 6), Ugochukwu 7, Caicedo 6, Palmer 7, (Enzo 6) Mudryk 6, (Sterling 6), Jackson 7, (Broja 6)
Verbruggen 7, Estupinan 6, Igor 6, van Hecke 7, Lamptey 6, Dahoud 6, (Hinshelwood 6), Baleba 6, (Gilmour 6), Mitoma 6, (Welbeck 6) Fati 6, (March 6), Buonanotte 6 (Lallana 6), Pedro 6.
Thomas Bramhall 8
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