Chelsea 0-0 Brighton: Blues slip up in top four race after protests help force European Super League U-turn

Chelsea’s top-four hopes took a hit as they were held to a goalless draw by Brighton on an evening when events of the pitch took centre-stage.

Ahead of kick-off at Stamford Bridge, hundreds of Blues fans gathered outside the ground to protest against the proposed European Super League and by the time the game began news had broken of the club’s intention to withdraw from the controversial breakaway competition.

At the end of an underwhelming 90 minutes, the point moves the Blues back into the top four but only ahead of West Ham on goal difference, while Brighton now sit seven points clear of the relegation zone, with a game in hand over 18th-placed Fulham.

Things could have been even better for the Seagulls, whose delayed arrival as a result of the protests outside the ground saw kick-off pushed back by 15 minutes.

Visiting goalkeeper Robert Sanchez barely had a save of note to make and at the other end both Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck went close to stealing all three points, the latter hitting the woodwork with a superb effort just ten minutes from time.

They did, however, have Ben White sent off in stoppage time after he was shown a second yellow card for halting Callum Hudson-Odoi on the counter-attack.

More to follow.

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