Post Match report for the Chelsea game - Wednesday, 3rd April 2019

PREMIER LEAGUE; Chelsea v Brighton

ALBION CLINICALLY DEPRESSED BY BLUES MOOD SWING


VENUE; Stamford Bridge, London SW6 - sixteenth away match of 31 fixtures.
RESULT; 3-0 . (h-t 1-0) . SHAPE; 4-5-1 . REF; easiest contest to officiate on a night without undue deliberations.

PREAMBLE; vagaries of domestic & European fixtures & knockout competition listings availed this contest to eventually take place well over a calendar month since initially scheduled.
The PL run-in was under way through April and travelling support, although concerned about final placing, had no more expectation tonight than prior to the original February date.
GATE; 38,593 . WEATHER; cold evening.

CHRIS HUGHTON nearly had the full strength squad from which to pick a side fit to compete against this top six outfit. Anticipation from away fans was that he could be true to habits so regularly revealed... in the event he made 4 changes.
Andone started up front after coming back from injury. March resumed on left flank while Bruno & Bong got rare apps.

TEAM; . . . . . . . 1 Ryan
. . 2 Bruno, 4 Duffy, 5 Dunk, 3 Bong
. . . 8 Bissouma, 6 Stephens, 24 Propper
. 16 Jahanbakhsh, 10 Andone, 20 March

BENCH; 27 Button, 30 Bernardo (75), 33 Burn, 7 Kayal, 11 Knockaert (31), 19 Izquiredo, 17 Murray (70).


GOALS; 1-0 - 38. The left flank was less secure after enforced substitution and hosts took advantage. Dunk could not stop the strike.
2-0 - 60. Blues front runners proved too good at a critical stage and travellers were left grasping at thin air once again.
3-0 - 63. A third score appeared way too soon and very easily as gaps opened all around green shirts positional shape.

INCIDENTS; heads dropped following the obvious defeat so early after the break and whatever fight visitors began with transposed into another soft reversal with imminent danger of becoming a rout.

YELLOWS; none.

SUBS; 31 - injured March comes off for Knockaert. 70 - ineffectual Andone is replaced by Murray. 75 - ineffective Jahanbakhsh is pulled for Bernardo.


ANALYSIS; solid first half defending from the front as a unit was undone with lax marking and hopes of nil-nil at the interval evaporated in an instant. Confidence drained from visitors and surged in hosts.
So the second period performance meant not to concede easily again, stay in the game and counter attack with determination during the last quarter. Of course, object of such a game-plan was to score an equaliser but is easier said than done, given Seagulls low returns on the road.
What actually happened was Albion were taken apart by a superior side able to dictate play, create and finish chances.
Thus one match in hand came to nought, knowing the next one later this month is also away in a big London stadium.
Thankfully other danger zone results maintained status quo in the bottom eight... at least for a few more days.

NUMBERS; shape 433-451, poss 68%-32%, on target 4-1, off target 8-2, corners 7-1, fouls 5-9, yellows 0-0, subs 3-3.

FS


EARLY APRIL MIDWEEK TABLE: bottom eight.
Po . Pl . -GD . Pt
13 . 32 . -05 . 36 Palace - Danger Zone
14 . 32 . -11 . 35 Newcastle
15 . 31 . -14 . 33 Brighton
16 . 31 . -15 . 33 Southampton
17 . 32 . -22 . 33 Burnley
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Drop Zone
18 . 32 . -33 . 28 Cardiff
19 . 33 . -46 . 17 Fulham - Relegated
20 . 32 . -41 . 14 Huddersfield - Relegated