Chelsea news: The Blues drop points again as Brighton come from behind to earn 1-1 draw

Chelsea’s winless run in the Premier League continues as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion at Falmer Stadium on Tuesday. Thomas Tuchel’s side went into the match on the back of a 1-0 loss against league leaders Manchester City. Now, after the draw, they find themselves trailing City, who have played a game less, by 12 points. The Blues put their nose in front through Hakim Ziyech in the first half before Adam Webster equalised for Brighton on the hour-mark. 

Points are shared at Amex Stadium after an exciting encounter on the south coast ?#BHACHE pic.twitter.com/WDHSYdWtJF

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 18, 2022

The opening 15 minutes were a quiet affair, and Brighton could have taken the lead after some nice team play. Danny Welbeck flicked the ball into Jakum Moder’s path whose shot from the edge of the box went wide. It took 14 minutes for Chelsea to register its first attempt on target as Cesar Azpilicueta’s effort was parried away by Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

In the 28th minute, Chelsea took the lead through Ziyech. The Morocco international received the ball from N’Golo Kante on the right side before unleashing a low left-foot shot that went past Sanchez at the near post. Just before the break, Romelu Lukaku laid the ball to Husdson-Odoi on the right side of the penalty area, but the latter’s effort went over the crossbar. 

Webster’s equaliser

After the break, Brighton came out with a bit more intent and Pascal Grob played a brilliant through ball to Welbeck but the English striker’s attempt missed the target from inside the box. Just before the hour-mark, Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made a brilliant save to keep out Mac Allister’s deflected attempt from 16 yards out.

However, the hosts leveled the score from the resulting corner. Mac Allister’s delivery from the corner was powerfully headed home by an unmarked Webster. It was poor marking from Chelsea as Webster was given too much space inside the box.

In response, at the other end, Marcos Alonso’s effort from 20 yards out went just over the bar. Chelsea desperately pushed men forward to find the winner but Brighton managed to hold on to the point. In the end, it was a fair result, but the Blues have now collected just two points from the last 12 available.