The Media Review: Albion stun old friends at Stamford Bridge

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Albion came from behind to beat the Blues on their own turf on Saturday.

Nick Szczepanik

2025-09-28T10:10+01:00

Stef Tzimas holds up Danny Welbeck's shirt after the striker's double at Stamford Bridge. 📷 by James Boardman.

It is rare for all the reports of a match to follow a single theme, but the writers in the cramped Stamford Bridge press box on Saturday found themselves facing an open goal, and they could not miss.

The number of ex-Albion men who have moved to Chelsea was too good a line to pass up, and former Scotland under-21 defender Gregor Robertson made the most of it in The Sunday Times: “When you consider how many hundreds of millions Chelsea have lavished upon Brighton & Hove Albion in recent years for a bewildering number of players, coaches and staff, their record against Tony Bloom’s masters of reinvention must leave the London club’s billionaire patrons spitting feathers on afternoons like these.

“Brighton were given a big helping hand here by a Chelsea team reduced to ten men for the second week running, but Fabian Hurzeler’s side punished their hosts to chalk up a third consecutive victory against them in all competitions. Trevoh Chalobah was sent off in the 53rd minute and Brighton’s substitutes, Danny Welbeck and Maxim De Cuyper, sealed another victory.

“When Yankuba Minteh bustled past Malo Gusto and whipped in a fine left-footed cross, Welbeck headed in from close range. Then, in the second minute of stoppage time, Yasin Ayari’s cross found another substitute, Mats Wieffer, who headed back across goal for another, De Cuyper, to send the travelling support wild. Welbeck garnished the victory with Brighton’s third in the 100th minute.”

In The Sun on Sunday, Andy Dillon noted that “the visiting fans delighted in their taunts as the goals flew in and [Chelsea manager Enzo] Maresca’s world crashed around him.

“They were referencing the FOUR former Brighton players in the Chelsea line up - part of the £257 million the crafty Seagulls have trousered from the money men at Stamford Bridge in just over three years since Todd Boehly and business partner Behad Eghali bought the club. Not one of those ex-Albion men looked worth a penny of what Chelsea handed over for their services.

“After taking the lead, the whole spine of Maresca’s team disintegrated and left the pitch to loud boos from their own fans. And if he was hoping that facing his old club would inspire Joao Pedro to stick a couple in the onion bag, it was a forlorn one.

“The Brazilian striker has scored just twice in the Premier League this season and rarely looked like adding to it. Hugs and backslaps before kick-off, but after hostilities began at three o’clock and Pedro got a hefty whack from former team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke, he went missing in inaction.”

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Battling Albion came from 1-0 down to claim all three points at Stamford Bridge. A brace from Danny Welbeck and one from Maxim De Cuyper sealed the victory. Club photographer James Boardman was at Stamford Bridge to capture the action.

Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian spotted that “Behdad Eghbali, Chelsea’s co-owner, was joined by the recruitment team in going down the tunnel after full-time. Were they headed for the home or away dressing room? Off to sign more Brighton players?

“This was sweet for Brighton. The celebrations were wild when Danny Welbeck’s second goal made it 3-1. The momentum shifted when James, who tired at right-back, went off for treatment after jarring his knee. A mix-up followed, Santos inadvertently poking the ball to Diego Gómez, who was through on goal and just outside the area when he was brought down by Chalobah.

“Chalobah had to be sent off. Brighton stirred. The pressure grew. Hürzeler introduced Welbeck and moved the outstanding Yankuba Minteh to the left flank. Faced by no counterattacks, Brighton pushed up and probed, Minteh crossing for Welbeck to head in the equaliser.

“Nothing worked for Chelsea and their composure disappeared. Brighton led when Yasin Ayari’s cross led to two substitutes combining, Mats Wieffer heading across for De Cuyper to score. Short of attacking outlets, Chelsea folded. It was over when Welbeck danced through and lifted a shot over Sánchez.”

In The Sunday Telegraph, Matt Law saw the game as a Chelsea defeat rather than an Albion victory. “When Danny Welbeck scored Brighton’s third goal and his second, Chelsea fans streamed out of Stamford Bridge with some only turning back to shout their displeasure towards Maresca. A few stayed to boo at the full-time whistle.

“Maresca had been the subject of criticism from Chelsea supporters last season before an end-of-season run secured Champions League qualification and Europa Conference League success.

“Chelsea were already out of feet to shoot themselves in after gifting Bayern Munich three goals and having Robert Sanchez sent off at Old Trafford. But that did stop them doing the dirty work for the opposition once again, as Trevoh Chalobah was shown a red card early in the second half to let the visitors back into the game.

“Brighton substitute Welbeck headed the visitors level and Maresca responded negatively by taking off forward Pedro Neto in order to add defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia to his team.

Maxim De Cuyper scored his first Premier League goal to put Albion in front at Stamford Bridge. 📷 by James Boardman.

“And his negativity backfired, as Brighton substitute Maxim De Cuyper headed Brighton’s winner in time added on for stoppages. It got worse as Welbeck netted Brighton’s third and the delirious away fans were quick to remind Chelsea of the number of players and staff they have taken from their club.”

Kieran Gill of The Mail on Sunday indulged in a favourite writers’ game, punting Albion players to rival clubs. “We thought Kaoru Mitoma might be Brighton’s next big sale, but maybe we should be turning our attention to Yankuba Minteh,” he wrote.

“The 21-year-old winger was their most dangerous man overall here, making [Marc] Cucurella’s life difficult down the visitors’ right-hand side. When the half-time whistle went, Cucurella whispered a little something to Minteh while walking by him.

Knowing Cucurella’s combative nature, it was likelier to have been ‘is that all you’ve got?’ than ‘have mercy’. But it was Minteh’s cross for Danny Welbeck which secured Brighton’s equaliser here, and if he continues to impress like this, bigger sides will soon have him on their radars.”

Dat Guy Welbz. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/WOqAY2QgoD
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 28, 2025

Nizaar Kinsella of the BBC joined in. “There is an argument that Marc Cucurella is one of the best defensive left-backs in the league but Yankuba Minteh gave him plenty of headaches over 90 minutes. His power, speed and skill caused Cucurella all sorts of trouble - and ultimately led to Welbeck's equaliser.

“It started a sweet comeback for Brighton - who have sold more than £260m worth of players and staff to Chelsea since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the Londoners in 2022.

“Seagulls owner Tony Bloom's recruitment set-up continues to unearth talents capable of competing against teams such as Chelsea. Even when Chelsea keep taking their best players.”