Enzo Fernandez scored his first two Premier League goals for Chelsea in a disputed match at Stamford Bridge, helping the club return to winning ways.

After Benoit Badiashile flicked Conor Gallagher’s corner back across the six-yard box, Fernandez escaped his marker to nod beyond Jason Steele early in the first half.

Midway through the first half, Levi Colwill, who had a successful loan spell with Brighton last season, rose to meet another Gallagher corner for his first goal for the club.

Facundo Buonanotte’s curling attempt two minutes before halftime pulled Brighton back into the contest.

Chelsea were reduced to ten men after Conor Gallagher was booked for a lunging charge on former Blues midfielder Billy Gilmour.

Brighton dominated the early second-half exchanges, but it was Chelsea who expanded their advantage in dubious fashion after James Milner muscled Mykhailo Mudryk off the ball after he had been placed clear by Raheem Sterling.

Referee Craig Pawson dismissed the home team’s pleas but was urged to consult the pitch-side VAR monitor before awarding a penalty, which Fernandez neatly executed.

Brighton dominated possession but didn’t appear like scoring until Joao Pedro stepped in front of Colwill to flick home Kaoru Mitoma’s corner in the first of 10 added minutes.

In stoppage time, the Seagulls lay siege to the Chelsea goal and appeared to have been granted a penalty kick when Pawson determined that Colwill used his arm to prevent Mitoma’s ball into the area.

VAR official Jarred Gillett asked him to submit his decision to the pitchside monitor once more, and after a lengthy review, he altered his opinion with the ball hitting Colwill in the face rather than the arm.