Jorrel Hato: Chelsea could have done better after Trevoh Chalobah red card

Defender Jorrel Hato felt Chelsea should have done better having gone down to 10 men before slumping to a 3-1 defeat to Brighton.

The Blues led through Enzo Fernandez’s first-half header when, in the 53rd minute, Trevoh Chalobah was shown a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity with a clumsy tackle through the back of Diego Gomez.

They clung to their lead for 25 minutes before substitute Danny Welbeck headed the visitors level from Yankuba Minteh’s cross.

Maxim De Cuyper then headed Brighton in front at the start of 11 minutes of added time and Welbeck took advantage of a mix-up in Chelsea’s ailing defence to make it three.

“I would say the first half was good from our side,” Hato, who started at Stamford Bridge with central defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana ruled out with injury, told Chelsea’s club website.

“We had a lot of possession, we created chances, we scored to make it 1-0 as well. We were playing well and scored a good goal.

“In the second half, after 10 minutes we got a red card and went down to 10 men. After that we knew it was going to be a difficult game, but all I can say is that this loss is very disappointing.”

It was the second time in as many league matches that a mistake had cost Enzo Maresca’s side a red card, following goalkeeper Robert Sanchez’s early dismissal for fouling Bryan Mbeumo in the 2-1 loss to Manchester United last weekend.

Against the Seagulls, Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos began the chain of events that turned the game, passing the ball straight to Brighton’s Gomez who was then brought down by Chalobah before he could enter the penalty area.

“Of course in the last game against Manchester United in the first half we also had a red card and now it happened again,” said Hato.

“You can see it just affects the game, when we are down to 10 men against 11, and we did it for nearly 40 minutes on Saturday. You can see it’s very difficult.

“We knew of course they would be playing on the sides and coming in with crosses. I think we could have done better, for sure.

“We’re very disappointed because we knew it would be difficult, but I think we didn’t give a lot of chances away before their equaliser. So, as I said, we’re very disappointed.”

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, who has now won his last three games against Chelsea, was full of praise for the impact of substitute Welbeck.

“I am very happy for Danny,” he said. “He’s a great leader and he got the rewards for all the work he does for the team and for himself.

“But we could go through the whole starting XI and the subs and say that they all played well. We have a togetherness and when you play well as a team you get your rewards.

“Overall I think the performances this season have been good. Every game has been very tight, so now we have to keep focusing, working hard and then we can get into a good flow of results.”