We made the ideal start at the Amex Stadium by taking the lead in the fifth minute. It was a goal that came with an element of fortune as Bart Verbruggen mishandled a volleyed cross from Cole Palmer and the ball ended up in his own net.

Yet the Seagulls quickly responded and Georginio Rutter levelled the contest with an expertly-taken header. The home side carried a threat throughout and they added a second after the interval when Kaoru Mitoma guided a finish beyond Robert Sanchez.

We had our chances to level but they weren't taken – and that brought a frustrating end to our FA Cup campaign.

A fast start

Enzo Maresca made six changes to his starting XI, with Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Keirnan-Dewsbury-Hall, Pedro Neto and Christopher Nkunku brought into the side. There were also first inclusions in the match-day squad for Aaron Anselmino and Mathis Amougou.

The Blues started well. Dewsbury-Hall fired an early warning shot into the side-netting and Palmer then forced Verbruggen into a reflex save with an effort from distance. From the resulting corner, we went ahead.

It was taken short by Palmer and the ball was worked to Jadon Sancho 25 yards out. The winger assessed his options and flighted a pass toward the byline to Palmer, who produced a first-time volley toward goal.

It wasn't a clean connection and the ball bounced toward Verbruggen. There appeared little danger. But the Brighton goalkeeper fumbled his claim, the ball ended in the back of the net, and Chelsea had a fifth-minute lead.

Pulled back

Unfortunately, it was not one we held for long. Brighton responded to falling behind well and produced a well-taken equaliser. Joel Veltman was the provider as he whipped an excellent cross into the penalty area and Rutter was able to guide his header into the bottom corner.

The game then settled and both sides had spells of possession, but chances were sparse. The clearest fashioned during the remainder of the opening 45 minutes went the way of the Blues and fell to Palmer.

A defence-splitting pass forward enabled Nkunku to break through but with the ball bouncing, he elected to hook it in the direction of Palmer. The England international opted to head the ball back across goal but his effort landed on the roof of the net.

The only other threat came late in the half when Rutter dispossessed Tosin, broke forward and squared the ball across goal. Cucurella was on hand to sweep a clearance behind the opening period came to a close soon after.

There remained little to separate the two sides in the early minutes of the second half. Brighton continued to defend well and carried a threat in transition while the Blues probed in the final third but couldn't find an avenue to test Verbruggen.

And just before the hour mark, the Blues fell behind. A pass down the right flank was collected by Mitoma, who shifted inside Gusto to square the ball to Tariq Lamptey. His shot was blocked, the ball fell to Rutter and he guided it back to Mitoma. The winger took the ball down well and guided a shot beyond Sanchez.

A change

Maresca responded instantly and introduced Enzo Fernandez for Dewsbury-Hall. Yet Brighton had the next chance as Welbeck connected with a corner at the back post, but his attempt cleared the crossbar.

As the half progressed, the Blues began to wrestle greater control. We moved the ball sharply across the Brighton final third but the home side defended their box well. However, a snapshot from Fernandez that drifted wide was a sign of our intent.

Another came minutes later when Cucurella adjusted well to guide the pass over the Brighton defence to Palmer. The England international was on the stretch, though, and his attempt skewed wide of the Seagulls' goal.

Maresca turned to his bench once again with 16 minutes to play. Noni Madueke and Tyrique George were introduced for Jadon Sancho and Neto.

It was George who had our next effort. A move sparked by Caicedo enabled Nkunku to guide a pass out to George, who surged into the area, shifted the ball onto his left foot and fired goalwards. Unfortunately, it flew over the crossbar.

As the minutes ticked down, we threw men forward. It resulted in a chance as a poor clearance fell to the feet of Fernandez 18 yards from goal. The Argentine released a powerful drive that was on target but Verbruggen batted the shot away.

It proved our final opportunity as Brighton saw out the final moments in the Blues half to seal victory and progression to the fifth round.

What comes next

We return to the Amex on Friday evening as we take on the Seagulls in Premier League action.

The teams

Brighton: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Dunk (Webster HT) Van Hecke, Veltman, Hinshelwood (Gomez 67), Mitoma, Baleba (Ayari 75), Rutter (Pedro 74), Minteh, Welbeck (O'Riley 88)
Brighton substitutes: Gruda, Adingra, Cashin, McGill
Goals: Rutter 12, Mitoma 57
Bookings: Rutter 20, Veltman 27

Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo (c), Dewsbury-Hall (Fernandez 58); Neto (Madueke 75), Palmer, Sancho (George 75); Nkunku
Chelsea substitutes: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Colwill, Anselmino, Samuels-Smith, Amougou
Goals: Verbruggen (og) 5
Bookings: Dewsbury-Hall 14, Caicedo 68

Referee:Jarred Gillett