Not for the first time in recent weeks Chelsea were again left to rue the concession of a late equaliser after playing out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Brighton at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues came into the game looking to cut Man City’s six point lead at the top of the Premier League table and Thomas Tuchel’s side began the game at a frenetic pace.
Just before the half hour mark the home side’s endeavour was rewarded when £98 million man Romelu Lukaku put Chelsea ahead, the Belgian striker bundling Neil Maupay out of his way and powering home a header from a corner.
Brighton began to grow into the game with their tidy possession based style there for all to see, and early in the second-half Yves Bissouma would sting the palms of Chelsea ‘keeper Edouard Mendy with a stinging effort from distance.
Not long after that Callum Hudson-Odoi would fluff his lines when Chelsea were clean through on goal with a two-on-one situation before Maupay fired just wide at the other end for the Seagulls.
By the time the game reached the hour mark it had descended into a end-to-end affair with Brighton somewhat surprisingly looking the more likely to score.
Then in the 90th minute Graeme Potter’s side would get their just deserts when substitute Danny Welbeck rose highest to fire a superb header into the bottom corner after a clipped ball into the area from Marc Cucurella.
The draw, coupled with Man City’s subsequent win over Brentford means Chelsea are now eight points behind the league leaders and speaking afterwards, Blues boss Tuchel seemed to see the game differently then most onlookers – insisting his side clearly deserved to win.
“A draw about right? Absolutely not. We had the better chances and a clear penalty. Very disappointing,” Tuchel told Amazon Sport.
“We are struggling but we have again two injured players.”
The former PSG coach then went on to have a right old moan about a penalty shout not given by ref Mike Dean for a foul on Christian Pulisic – it was a stonewall penalty to be fair – and then moved onto his usual player welfare shtick.
”If the ref does not want to give a penalty when it is a clear 100% penalty. Circumstances are against us. 100 % penalty, you ask the ref not me. Our players are Injured. I told you what would happen weeks ago. Same thoughts, I told you.
“Sure we are tired, if you had been in bed for 10 days and played Premier League after that you would be tired.”
Next up for Chelsea is a crunch clash against third place Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
