Chelsea maintained their European charge with a fourth successive win on Wednesday, beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 at the Amex Stadium.

Cole Palmer’s excellent header – his 22nd Premier League goal of a fine debut campaign – put the Blues ahead, and Christopher Nkunku gave Chelsea breathing room in the second half.

Chelsea captain Reece James was sent off for a petulant kick on Joao Pedro late on, and Danny Welbeck halved the arrears in stoppage time, but the visitors held on and climbed to sixth above Newcastle United, who lost 3-2 at Manchester United.

A draw or win against AFC Bournemouth on Sunday would ensure the Blues keep that spot and qualify for Europe.

How the match unfolded

Chelsea thought they had earned an early chance to score from the spot as Facundo Buonanotte's challenge on Marc Cucurella was penalised, but the penalty award was overturned after a VAR review.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side continued to push for the opener as Malo Gusto's deflected effort was tipped over by Bart Verbruggen, and they eventually broke through in the 34th minute.

Cucurella burst down the left-hand side before floating a cross into the box, and Palmer arrived to send a looping header over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Nicolas Jackson had an excellent chance to double Chelsea’s lead in first-half stoppage time, but he failed to convert Palmer’s cross on the volley. Substitute Nkunku then went close shortly after the break, but his driven effort from the edge of the box went narrowly wide.

Brighton should have equalised in the 57th minute as Tariq Lamptey’s dipping cross found Pascal Gross totally unmarked, but he somehow put his shot wide from inside the six-yard box.

Pochettino's men punished that miss seven minutes later, with Gusto cutting back for Nkunku to pick out the bottom corner with a first-time finish.

James was sent off after a VAR review as stoppage time loomed, having kicked out at Pedro. It was the right-back's second red card of the season, resulting in a four-match suspension which means he will miss the first three Premier League matches of the 2024/25 campaign.

Brighton pilled on the pressure from there and Simon Adingra struck a post on the volley before Welbeck poked home from a Pedro delivery, but Chelsea ultimately held firm.

Pochettino has started to turn things around since the start of 2024, with Chelsea securing 32 points in the Premier League since the start of January.

The contributions of Palmer have certainly helped the Argentine, with the young attacker scoring the opening goal in nine league games this season.

Chelsea supporters wouldn’t have been expecting a late push for the European places, but with the Blues sitting sixth going to the final day, qualification is in their hands.

As for Brighton, they have failed to win in their last 11 matches when conceding the opening goal in the Premier League, in a run which dates back to a victory over Brentford on 6 December.

A top-half finish is now the limit of the Seagulls' ambitions. They are 10th, four points behind ninth-placed West Ham United.

Club reports

Brighton report | Chelsea report

Match officials

Referee: Michael Salisbury. Assistants: Richard West, Derek Eaton. Fourth official: Andy Davies. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: James Mainwaring