Valentine’s Day massacre proves money cannot buy everything

Friday 14th February 2025 was a beautiful, sunny Valentine’s Day. I love to spoil my loved one on the most romantic day of the year. Just like Brighton did to all us loyal fans by beating Chelsea for the second time in under a week.

A great lunchtime meal at the Rowfant Centre Cafe was cooked up by owner, chef extraordinaire and fellow Albion supporter, Martin Challan.

We also took Teddy the Cockapoo for a walk and asked him for his match prediction. I was amazed when he indicated with his paw the win sign, which is to hold something in one hand, nothing the other.

However, I was not so confident. Especially when there was a wardrobe malfunction in my preparation. Skin tight thermal clothing went on my body and legs with a freezing cold night predicted.

The body went okay. The legs though did not. I forced my long johns on, bent over and heard a considerable rip from the backside area.

There was no time to waste. So it was off to the Amex I went, with nobody any the wiser that underneath my trousers were a ripped pair of long johns. Snood, scarf, bobble hat, wine gums and peppermints completed the outfit.

The run down to Brighton was a breeze and we arrived at Falmer in perfect time, just after Chelsea’s Ellison Executive Coaches.

The visitor’s buses at least turned up, which is more than could be said for their players come 10pm.

There seemed to be a little uncertainty around the East Upper beforehand over how the Albion might fare. And not just over the football.

The 10 percent discount when using an Amex card seems to have been quietly changed, accompanied by an “I’m sorry, sir” from the person behind the kiosk.

Whilst I shared some of those doubts (about the football), I explained to those I spoke to that my cockapoo Teddy had predicted a Brighton win. Hopefully, it helped settle some nerves.

Of course, we need not have worried. The Albion gave one of their best performances of the season. The determination, togetherness, team spirit and will to win were phenomenal.

These players were clearly trusting the process, as head coach Fabian Hurzeler is so fond of saying. It ended up being a Valentine’s Day massacre.

There was a pre-game light show, pyrotechnics and fireworks to build up a great atmosphere. Several top names were sitting in the West Stand for the game.

England manager Thomas Tuchel made his second visit to the Amex since January. Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was present.

And Dutch national head coach Ronald Koeman, keeping an eye on Bart Verbruggen, Jan Paul van Hecke and maybe even Joel Veltman? How amazing it would be for Veltman to be recalled by his country after being ignored for so many years.

I expected Chelsea to come out all guns blazing after their FA Cup defeat at the Amex last week. To a certain extent, they did.

Brighton came under early pressure. Malo Gusto made a run down the right wing, passing onto Noni Madueke. He put in a great cross to Cole Palmer, who for once shot wide rather than scoring against the Albion. I took that to be a sign it might be our night.

The 27th minute saw Brighton score their best goal of the season so far. Pure magic. Verbruggen showed great foresight to pick out the run of Kaoru Mitoma through the Chelsea defence.

Mitoma must have had Velcro on his feet as the ball stuck to his boot dropping out of the air. He stepped away from Trevor Chalobah and placed a rocket past Filip Jorgensen.

A stunning goal needing only three touches to go from one end of the pitch the other. Verbruggen, control from Mitoma, finish from Mitoma.

Chelsea thought they had equalised not long after. Enzo Fernandez though had clearly used two hands in the back of Joel Veltman before the Blues midfielder headed into the back of the net.

Referee Chris Kavanagh saw the blatant offence and immediately disallowed the goal. It was strange to see Chelsea complaining about the decision.

Enzo Maresca was already looking increasingly frustrated, pacing up and down his technical area. Further concern was about to come the way of the visiting head coach when Brighton moved 2-0 ahead.

A cross from Georginio Rutter went past five Chelsea defenders. Danny Welbeck touched it off to Yankubu Minteh, who maintained his balance and scored a left footed shot on the swivel.

Goal three came on 63 minutes. Welbeck and Minteh exchanged an excellent give-and-go. Minteh was able to weave past Marc Cucurella easily, leaving the ex-Albion left back very upset.

From a tight angle, Minteh then beat Jorgensen at his near post to wrap up victory. With half an hour still to play.

Brighton tried to add more and were unlucky not to when Veltman hit the post. But the Albion also needed Verbruggen to make a great save with his left leg to preserve the clean sheet.

A 3-0 win with only 30.5 percent possession is not something Brighton fans have been used to for a long time. Chelsea had no shots on target.

It just goes to prove that it is not always about how much you have the ball, but what you do with it.

And that spending £1.5 billion on presents does not guarantee you a good Valentine’s Day.

Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony