Published: 09:09, April 22, 2026
Brighton outclass woeful Chelsea 3-0 in Premier League drubbing
By Reuters
Chelsea's Pedro Neto (left) is tackled by Brighton and Hove Albion's Georginio Rutter during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea in Brighton, England, April 21, 2026. (PHOTO / PA VIA AP)

BRIGHTON, England - Brighton & Hove Albion's Ferdi Kadioglu netted an early opener and Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck scored in the second half to pile more misery on floundering Chelsea in a 3-0 Premier League victory on ​Tuesday.

The result sees Brighton climb above their visitors to sixth in the table on 50 ‌points, two ahead of Chelsea, who have won one of their last nine league games and are in danger of missing out on European football next season if they cannot find a way out of their slump.

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior ​shuffled both his players and his tactics during the game, but they had no response ​to going in a goal down at the break, and his team limped to ⁠another embarrassing defeat.

Brighton's Kadioglu side-footed home from a corner that was flicked on to break the deadlock ​in the third minute, and the hosts should have doubled their lead in the 18th minute when Chelsea ​keeper Robert Sanchez mishit a pass that went straight to Carlos Baleba in the visitors’ penalty area.

Baleba squared the ball to Hinshelwood, but his tame effort was cleared by Trevoh Chalobah.

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Brighton's English striker #18 Danny Welbeck (second left) scores their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England, on April 21, 2026. (PHOTO / AFP)

After failing to register a shot on target in the ​opening 45 minutes, halftime substitute Alejandro Garnacho gave Chelsea's attack a much-needed shot in the arm, and ​he immediately created a chance for Romeo Lavia, who blazed over.

Chelsea's resurgence ended almost as quickly as it began, and ‌in ⁠the 56th minute Hinshelwood redeemed his earlier miss by firing home a pass from Georginio Rutter to complete a counter-attack.

With Chelsea still struggling to create any goal-scoring opportunities, Welbeck came off the bench and added a late third to condemn the Blues to a fifth league defeat in a row without scoring.

Rosenior tore ​strips off his Chelsea ​side in his post-match ⁠interview, saying that the performance was unprofessional and far from the level expected.

Brighton's French midfielder #10 Georginio Rutter is tackled by Chelsea's Ecuadorian midfielder #25 Moises Caicedo during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England, on April 21, 2026. (PHOTO / AFP)

"It's nowhere near enough for this club, it's nowhere near enough. I can't come ​out and lie, I'll tell the truth - that was an unacceptable performance in ​every area," he ⁠told Sky Sports.

"It's a really, really difficult night, the most difficult night, not even so far here at this magnificent football club, (but) in my career, because some of the things I was witnessing today I never, ⁠ever want ​to see again."

Chelsea take on Leeds United in an FA ​Cup semi-final on Sunday in a game that could make or break their season.

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"I have to sit with the staff, and we ​have to make sure we get it right for Sunday," Rosenior said.