Chelsea boost European hopes with win at Brighton despite Reece James’ red

Perhaps Mauricio Pochettino is onto something after all? A fourth successive victory thanks to Cole Palmer’s 27th goal of the season and another from substitute Christopher Nkunku was the latest indication that Chelsea’s road to recovery is gathering pace despite a mindless late red card for captain Reece James.

Pochettino’s side now find themselves within touching distance of securing some kind of European football for next season, with there even being a possibility of beating Tottenham to fifth spot if they can claim victory in their final match of the season against Bournemouth on Sunday. It has been a remarkable turnaround since the record 5-0 thrashing at Arsenal a few weeks ago, with Palmer and Nkunku – who celebrated his goal on only his 11th league appearance after joining for £52m in the summer by blowing up a blue balloon – giving a tantalising glimpse of what this team might someday be capable of as Roberto De Zerbi’s side were well beaten despite Danny Welbeck’s late consolation. The only negative for Pochettino was the dismissal of James 20 minutes after he had come off the bench when he kicked out at João Pedro and the incident was spotted by VAR.

Brighton’s hopes of reaching Europe again this season may have long since faded but there was still plenty riding on this for their fans, who heartily booed the names of Marc Cucurella and Moisés Caicedo whenever they touched the ball. They were just two of 11 players or staff members to have left the south coast for Stamford Bridge, culminating in head of recruitment Sam Jewell’s departure in February. But, as chief executive Paul Barber has explained it, “they are taking the hose, not the water supply” in reference to owner Tony Bloom.

Barber has been realistic about the prospects of De Zerbi staying, admitting that he will hold further talks with Bloom at the end of the season. Brighton certainly seemed intent on making a point in their penultimate match of an up and down campaign that has been undermined by a number of serious injuries after selling their midfield engine room last summer.

Having conceded an early shot to Noni Madueke that Lewis Dunk did well to clear after it was spilled by Bart Verbruggen, Simon Adingra dragged his shot just wide from Tariq Lamptey’s cross. There was uproar when Michael Salisbury pointed to the spot after Facundo Buonanotte challenged Cucurella inside the penalty area, with VAR quickly summoning the referee to review his decision. On the day it was announced that Premier League clubs will vote whether to scrap them, it was a victory for the men at Stockley Park after replays showed the Argentina forward had just made contact with the ball.

Verbruggen tipped over Malo Gusto’s effort that deflected off Igor Julio as Chelsea started to look more dangerous. It was their supporters who made themselves heard when Dunk was booked for bringing down Nicolas Jackson on edge of the area but Palmer’s free-kick into the wall was not of his usual high standards. The England forward’s next involvement was much more like it: Cucurella delivered an inch-perfect cross from the left and Palmer was able to steer his header over the despairing dive of Verbruggen to Pochettino’s delight.

But there was some concern for the Chelsea manager when Mykhailo Mudryk needed treatment after a collision with Lamptey, with the Ukraine forward eventually being replaced by Nkunku just before the break. Only a block from Dunk denied Palmer a second after he was set up by Madueke before Jackson saw his header ruled out for offside in nine minutes of first-half injury time. João Pedro was unlucky to see his header cannon back off the crossbar in the closest Brighton had come to finding a breakthrough.

Dunk was unable to return for the second half and was replaced by Valentin Barco. Brighton’s sense of injustice was only compounded by the referee’s failure to award them a penalty when Gusto seemed to clearly foul Adingra.

The lively Nkunku and Gusto both went close for Chelsea but Pochettino fumed when Palmer dallied inside the box and eventually saw his effort blocked. Only Pascal Gross will know how he managed not to direct his volley on target from three yards from another Lamptey cross as De Zerbi was remonstrating with the fourth official about another decision that didn’t go his side’s way. Chelsea were a threat on the break as Brighton pushed forward for an equaliser, although their second came from a brilliant move down the right flank started by Madueke, with Gusto providing the cutback for Nkunku to score his first goal since January.

With his team cantering towards victory, Pochettino will be scratching his head what possessed James to lose his head late on, with the defender now facing a four-match ban after only recently returning from injury. Adingra struck a post in injury time with a volley as Brighton attempted to claw their way back before Welbeck’s late consolation from a Pedro cross. But it was the Chelsea contingent who will head into this weekend with everything to play for.