Nicolas Jackson scored the decisive goal that pushed Chelsea into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, securing a 1-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge.
This win provided some relief for Mauricio Pochettino, who was under early pressure due to a challenging start in the Premier League. Chelsea secured their spot in the last 16 of the competition relatively early in the second half.
Jackson’s goal was crucial, marking only his second since joining the club in the summer. The Blues will now advance to face Blackburn in the next round.
However, Chelsea’s satisfying night had a late setback when Ben Chilwell had to leave the game due to a suspected hamstring injury.
Brighton’s loss would likely have been disappointing, especially considering they missed two excellent opportunities in the first half.
However, given their involvement in the Europa League this season in addition to their impressive league performance, an early exit from the Carabao Cup might actually be seen as a fortunate turn of events for Roberto De Zerbi and his team.
Robert Sanchez’s worst game for Chelsea:
In the first half, Robert Sanchez, who recently transferred from Brighton to Chelsea, appeared to still be playing for his former team.
He made two huge passing errors that gifted Brighton great scoring opportunities. First, he passed the ball directly to Joao Pedro, who unfortunately hit the crossbar from outside the box.
Then, he gave the ball away to Moises Caicedo, another former Brighton player, in a vulnerable position, but Caicedo was fortunate that Ansu Fati failed to convert the chance.
Brighton’s failure to capitalize on these opportunities came back to haunt them early in the second half when Chelsea took the lead.
A well-executed team play ended with Cole Palmer providing a pass to Jackson, who calmly finished from just inside the box into the bottom corner.
Cole Palmer proves his talent with an impressive display:
Although Cole Palmer has mostly come off the bench in the Premier League since joining Chelsea, it will be challenging for Pochettino to exclude him from the starting lineup in their upcoming match against Fulham on Monday.
The former Manchester City star played a pivotal role in the club’s attacking efforts and set up their first goal since his arrival at the club.
At just 21 years old, Palmer showcases excellent footwork, precise passing, and a combination of presence and strength in his style of play. Wednesday’s performance could mark the beginning of a promising career with Chelsea for him.
The manager’s words after the match:
As quoted by Football London, Pochettino said:
“Never easy to play with situations and circumstances and today was a must-win we needed to win this game. Of course always is the intensity and sometimes the pressure to win, sometimes is not to be perfect. I think in the second half we dominated the game and deserved the victory.”
What’s next:
Chelsea travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham in another crunch Premier League tie on Monday night.
