Chelsea are without a Premier League win in four and manager Thomas Tuchel will be concerned with the Blues’ recent form as he approaches his one-year anniversary at Stamford Bridge
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In pictures: Brighton v Chelsea
Thomas Tuchel celebrates his first anniversary as Chelsea boss next week.
And while Tuchel can proudly boast a Champions League trophy to his name, he will not need telling that Premier League results have been nowhere near good enough.
Chelsea escaped from the South Coast with a draw, the Brighton fans were jumping because they outplayed the European champions after Graham Potter masterminded another scintillating performance.
But Chelsea are well and truly stuck in a rut because it is now four games without a win in the league – his worst run as Chelsea boss – and just one win from their last seven.
Those are the sort of results that have got previous Chelsea managers the sack such is their demand for success.
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We are nowhere near that point yet with Tuchel because, most importantly, the away fans were still singing his name throughout and they have not lost faith.
Furthermore, Tuchel has already delivered European success, the Super Cup on top of the Champions League and next month’s Carabao Cup final will be his fourth major final since taking charge.
But they are 12 points behind leaders Manchester City having played a game more and they look every inch a side out of form and shorn of confidence.
Yet again, Chelsea let another result slip as Hakim Ziyech’s opener was cancelled out by man of the match Adam Webster and the Brighton defender is definitely playing well to earn himself an England call-up.
Dropping points at Brighton is no disgrace because Potter is building something really special at the AmEx but Chelsea just cannot find the right formation or winning formula.
It was another bad night Romelu Lukaku who had another unproductive night and the £97m striker was substituted after failing to make inroads.
Tuchel must somehow reignite Chelsea’s season before the mood turns and yet they do look vulnerable in defence and they cannot hold onto leads.
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It was Brighton who made all the early running, Danny Welbeck missed a gilt edged chance and, a minute later, Chelsea went ahead through Ziyech’s hit-and-hope effort.
N’Golo Kante was going nowhere in midfield, played a ball to Ziyech who unleashed a left foot shot from 25 yards which caught out Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez at his post for the 28th minute opener.
All credit to Brighton. They never let their heads drop and roared back. Welbeck skied another chance over just 20 seconds after the restart while Alexis MacAllister saw a shot deflected and Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made a super save to push the ball round for a corner.
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MacAllister put over a corner and in raced Webster, the Brighton defender was left unmarked and powered home a brilliant header.
Suddenly the roof came off the AmEx. Webster has been in brilliant form, his composure on the ball, strong defending and threat going forward must put him in the England frame. But Brighton fans said that for years about Lewis Dunk.
It was Brighton who looked more likely to get the winner but, for all their pressure, they just could not find a way through which would have been well deserved.
For Chelsea, it was another night of disappointment. And Tuchel will know that he cannot afford too many more of those.
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