Out of the chaos, Mauricio Pochettino can now see the prospect of a Europa League marketing campaign for Chelsea after 2-1 win at Brighton, writes MATT BARLOW

Chelsea took pole place within the battle to qualify for the Europa League By Matt Barlow Printed: 22:07 BST, 15 Could 2024 | Up to date: 01:21 BST, 16 Could 2024

Out of the chaos of his first season at Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino can see the prospect of a Europa League marketing campaign taking form.Solely small reward by latest requirements at Stamford Bridge however some satisfaction for Pochettino, whose crew moved into sixth on a day when co-owner Todd Boehly could possibly be heard espousing the worth of endurance.’Something actually good takes a little bit little bit of time,’ mentioned Boehly earlier than victory at Brighton by targets by Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku. Chelsea are 5 unbeaten since a 5-0 mauling at Arsenal, successful the final 4 and wish solely some extent from Sunday’s sport at dwelling towards Bournemouth to qualify for the Europa League. Win once more they usually might leapfrog Tottenham and end fifth.It was not all plain crusing, nonetheless, with Reece James despatched off 20 minutes after approaching, kicking out in retaliation at Joao Pedro after a foul, which can see him miss the beginning of subsequent season by suspension. Chelsea jumped as much as sixth within the Premier League desk with a victory away at Brighton Christopher Nkunku scored his first aim since January and his third since becoming a member of Chelsea Mauricio Pochettino’s facet are ending strongly and look prone to play in subsequent yr’s Europa League Palmer produced a surprising header to place Chelsea into the lead within the first half 

MATCH FACTS  Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Lamptey (Offiah 85), Webster, Dunk (Barco 46), Igor; Groß, Gilmour (Baleba 70); Buonanotte (Welbeck 70), Enciso (Fati 85), Adingra; PedroUnused subs: Steele, Lallana, Moder, AtomGoal: Welbeck 90+7 Booked: Dunk, VerbruggenChelsea XI: Petrović; Gusto (James 69), Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher (Ugochukwu 90+9); Madueke (Sterling 69), Palmer (Casadei 90+9), Mudryk (Nkunku 42); Jackson (Silva 90)Unused subs: Bettinelli, Chilwell, ColwillGoal: Palmer 34, Nkunku 64Booked: Sterling, CaicedoSent off: James  Danny Welbeck added anxiousness with a aim within the seventh minute of added time however Pochettino’s crew left with three factors.’It is for different individuals to analyse our job and I’ve one yr extra contract right here and that is it,’ mentioned Pochettino. ‘The issue is we solely analyse the outcome, not the performances and never the circumstances.’Palmer struck first along with his twenty fifth aim of the season quickly after Lewis Dunk had returned to the pitch after receiving therapy and Brighton’s defence had been out of practice as Marc Cucurella crossed from the left. The Blues earlier thought that they had a penalty for a foul on Marc Cucurella earlier than a VAR overturn Mykhailo Mudryk went down with an damage and was pressured off within the first-half of the sport Chelsea goalkeeper Petrovic jumps for the ball as Brighton appeared to search out an equaliser Nkunku celebrates along with his Chelsea team-mates after doubling their lead after 64 minutesUnmarked, Palmer moved ahead effortlessly onto the ball and glanced it past Bart Verbruggen with a header fading away from the goalkeeper.The guests deserved their lead. They carried the nice aim menace by the primary half, forcing early saves from Verbruggen they usually thought that they had a penalty when Cucurella tumbled beneath a sort out by Facundo Bounanotte.Michael Salisbury pointed to the spot however replays confirmed Buonanotte gained the ball so VAR Peter Bankes intervened and the penalty was overturned.Salisbury then dominated out a Chelsea aim simply earlier than half-time. Nicolas Jackson climbed above Tariq Lamptey and located the web with header however was harshly penalised for a push.Brighton’s finest effort of the primary half got here within the ninth minute of stoppage time when Joao Pedro crashed a header towards the bar from a cross by Lamptey. Bart Verbruggen was maybe fortunate solely to see yellow after fouling Nicolas Jackson Referee Michael Salisbury was ordered to examine the monitor for a foul by Reece James VAR officers felt that the Chelsea full-back kicked out at Brighton star Joao Pedro (pictured) James in consequence was despatched off, giving Brighton a really small likelihood of a late comebackChelsea misplaced Mykailo Mudryk, dazed after a collision, and Dunk didn’t return for the second half, his knee downside one other concern for England.’He is no OK however I hope for him it isn’t a giant downside,’ mentioned Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi. ‘I do not know if he will likely be accessible for Sunday however extra importantly for him to be accessible for Europe. He could have a scan.’Brighton improved and thought they deserved a penalty for a foul on Simon Adingra, however the officers weren’t . Nkunku stretched the lead along with his first aim since January, delivering a low cross from Malo Gusto.Verbruggen escaped a pink card regardless of reducing down Jackson outdoors the field earlier than a late flurry of exercise with James despatched off and Adringra hit a publish earlier than Welbeck’s aim made for a frantic closing sequence.

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Out of the chaos, Mauricio Pochettino can now see the prospect of a Europa League marketing campaign for Chelsea after 2-1 win at Brighton, writes MATT BARLOW

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