Ten-man Chelsea hang on as VAR denies Brighton

Brighton and Hove Albion's Jan Paul van Hecke reacts in injury time. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.

Chelsea 3 (Fernandez 17, 65 pen, Colwill 21) Brighton 2 (Buonanotte 43, Joao Pedro 92) 

Chelsea’s revival under Mauricio Pochettino took another positive step forward as they secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Brighton but only after chaotic scenes in injury time as VAR denied Brighton a last-gasp penalty that could have made it 3-3.

Albion thought they had been awarded a spot-kick for handball by Levi Colwill but Craig Pawson’s trip to the monitor saw it overturned as confusion reigned and players from both sides huddled around the referee - with tussles continuing after the final whistle.

It was a crazy end to a crazy match that saw Chelsea seal victory with two goals from Enzo Fernandez and one from Colwill – despite having captain Conor Gallagher sent off in the first half.

Gallagher was dismissed for two bookable offences, the second for a tackle from behind on Billy Gilmour, leaving Chelsea to play more than 60 minutes with 10 men.

But the way Pochettino’s side managed the game from then on should give Chelsea fans huge encouragement that their team is finally turning a corner – moving into the top 10 in the process.

It had already been looking positive in November when the Blues won 4-1 at Tottenham and held champions Manchester City to an exciting 4-4 draw, but a 4-1 reverse at Newcastle last time out had seen doubts return.

This game, however, delivered a positive response against a Brighton team who scored through Facundo Buonanotte and Joao Pedro, and threatened to find an equaliser during 10 nervy minutes of injury time.

Chelsea began the match at a fast pace, pressing Albion with a tenacity that felt new – and it certainly worked, against opponents who were still recovering from a long trip to Athens in the Europa League.

The Blues were 2-0 up inside 21 minutes in a spell that opened a window on the way this Chelsea team will define itself in future.

The fact that both goals were scored by young players, another key part of the Pochettino revolution, made it all the sweeter.

The first, after 17 minutes, was glanced home by 22-year-old Fernandez following a hooked cross to the far post from Benoit Badiashille.

The second, following a corner routine, was converted by 20-year-old Levi Colwill for his first-ever Chelsea goal, the ball just crossing the line before it was cleared.

At this stage there were hugely encouraging signs for the home side, but the ‘take two steps forward, take one backwards’ curse then struck again.

Firstly, when Chelsea allowed Buonanotte the freedom to roam onto an Adam Lallana pass and curl home a low left-footed shot for 2-1.

Then, secondly, when Gallagher received his marching orders.

Chelsea felt it was soft, and it was, but when you tackle from behind these days and get the man first, the outcome is inevitable.

Brighton sought to make the most of their advantage in the second half by bringing on four pairs of fresh legs – James Milner, Joao Pedro, Kauro Mitoma and Pascal Gross.

But there was another controversial twist when Mykhailo Mudryk raced through on goal and was sent tumbling by Milner. It looked like an old-school shoulder barge, but VAR spotted a tangle of legs and sent Pawson to the monitor.

It was Fernandez who converted the penalty, driving it calmly down the middle, and suddenly Chelsea’s up-and-down season was on an up again.

There were nerves at the end – especially when Joao Pedro headed home a corner and following that last gasp penalty decision. But Chelsea somehow held on for what could be a season-defining victory.

Chelsea: Sanchez, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Colwill, Caicedo, Fernandez, Sterling (Palmer 66), Gallagher, Mudryk, ( Brjoja 81) Jackson (Maatsen 72) Unused subs: Petrovic, Bergstrom, Madueke, Broja, Deivid, Gilchrist, Matos.

Brighton: Steele, Veltman, Van Hecke, Julio (Baker-Boaitey), Baleba (Gross 57), Gilmour, Hinshelwood (Milner 57), Lallana (Joao Pedro 57), Adringa, Buonanotte (Mitoma 57), Ferguson.

Unused subs: Verbruggen, Moder, Kavanagh, O'Mahony 

Referee: Craig Pawson