It looked like were were going to steamroll our way to a second win of the season as Ronnie Stutter scored twice in the first 30 minutes of the game with two fine finishes.

However, a goal just before half time helped the away side to turn the tide in their favour. After scoring Brighton's first, Luca Barrington got his second of the game with a good finish inside the box.

The third and final goal came through Jack O’Mahoney as he was in the right place to finish Samy Couchane’s cross into the box.

Despite our efforts at an equaliser, we could not find the goal needed to get a point. We now head to Norwich for our first away game of the season a week today.

Good signs

Max Merrick started in goal in what was his first game for the Under-21s in the PL2. Jimmy-Jay Morgan and Diego Moreira were handed their first starts for the young Blues in this competition.

Despite the young line-up, we started positively and showed some good control of possession early on.

We took the lead with only six minutes gone and it came through Stutter’s endeavour, as he chased what seemed to be a lost cause, composing himself and slotting past the goalkeeper. It was his third goal in two games.

Dyer went on a darting run into the box and his cross was only just turned away for a corner from the toe of Jack Hinshelwood.

Stutter made it two braces in as many games, being in the right place to finish inside the box after a miscued Morgan shot. The move was started by Alex Matos, who won the ball in midfield and drove towards the box, before putting in a dangerous cross.

Tide turning

The away side almost pulled a goal back instantly as a quick counter saw Cameron Peupion put a good delivery into the box from the right flank, but Barrington could not connect.

We seemed to be in control as we looked to get in at half-time two goals ahead. The Seagulls had other ideas as Barrington, who had shown threatening glimpses throughout the first period, cut in from the right flank and found the bottom corner with a good shot from just outside the box.

It was Brighton who started the second half better and 10 minutes in they evened the scoreline, when Barrington finished well inside the box after a goalmouth scramble.

The comeback was completed when the pressure yielded a goal, as a well-worked move saw Couchane play a fine cross, which left O’Mahoney an easy tap-in at the back post.

Game lost

Merrick kept us in the match as he made a good save from O’Mahoney and the rebound was skied over by Barrington. Leo Castledine had a late header in the box which he put wide.

We probed for an equaliser, but we failed to swing the second-half momentum that the hosts had. The match would end 3-2 to the Seagulls as we lose our first game of the season.

Chelsea (4-2-2-2): Max Merrick; Brodi Hughes (Josh-Kofi Acheampong 74), Alfie Gilchrist (c), Zak Sturge, Dylan Williams; Kiano Dyer, Alex Matos (Sam Rak-Sakyi 78); Leo Castledine, Diego Moreira (Zain Silcott-Duberry 78); Ronnie Stutter, Jimmy-Jay Morgan (Billy Gee 82)
Unused sub: Luke Campbell
Scorer: Stutter 6, 28
Booked: Matos 18, Hughes 35, Gee 90+2

Brighton (4-3-3): Killian Cahill; Tariq Lamptey (Casper Nilsson 64), Imari Samuels, Ruairi McConville (Noel Atom 64), Jack Hinshelwood, Samy Couchane (Jamie Mullins 74), Cameron Peupion, Jack Hinchy (c), Jack O’Mahoney, Andy Moran, Luca Barrington (Josh Duffus 79)
Unused sub: Tommy Reid
Scorers: Barrington 44, 52; O'Mahoney 64
Booked: McConville 26, Hinshelwood 30, Samuels 69