Chelsea’s chances of claiming silverware on the domestic front went up in smoke following a 2-1 defeat away to Brighton and Hove Albion in their FA Cup fourth-round tie at the AMEX Stadium on Saturday night.
In what was an all Premier League encounter, it was the Seagulls who prevailed into the next round after coming from a goal down to claim victory.
The Blues took a fifth-minute lead albeit through fortuitous circumstances, when Seagulls goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen inexplicably spilled Cole Palmer’s tame effort into the net.
But Brighton swiftly responded when Georginio Rutter escaped Chelsea centre-backs Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo to glance Joel Veltman’s cross from the right into the bottom left corner in the 12th minute.

Brighton then took the lead in the 57th minute after the Blues failed to fully clear the danger following a blocked shot from Tariq Lamptey, allowing Rutter to tee up Kaoru Mitoma who then chested towards goal and lifted the ball beyond keeper Robert Sanchez.
Both sides will meet again in the Premier League on Friday evening, with the fixture offering the Blues an opportunity to get their revenge on the Seagulls.
Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Everton fell 2-0 at home to Bournemouth in another all-Premier League match courtesy of first-half goals by Antoine Semenyo and Daniel Jebbinson, while Joe Willock got the winner as Newcastle United edged to a 3-2 win at Birmingham City.
FA Cup results
Leyton Orient 1-2 Manchester City
Leeds United 0-2 Millwall
Birmingham City 2-3 Newcastle United
Wigan Athletic 1-2 Fulham
Everton 0-2 Bournemouth
Southampton 0-1 Burnley
Preston North End 0 (2) – (4) 0 Wycombe Wanderers
Stoke City 3 (2) – (4) 3 Cardiff City
Coventry City 1-4 Ipswich Town