‘What a stinker’ – Chelsea gifted goal as Brighton goalkeeper has moment to forget in FA Cup fourth round

Troy Deeney labelled Bart Verbruggen’s error against Chelsea as ‘an absolute stinker’ after the Brighton goalkeeper conceded a humiliating own-goal.

Coming off a 7-0 mauling at the hands of Nottingham Forest in their last fixture, Brighton hoped to find form in their FA Cup fourth round tie at the Amex Stadium.

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The Brighton goalkeeper produced a woeful error to put Chelsea in front[/caption]

Unfortunately for the Seagulls, their best-laid plains were wrecked after just five minutes.

Jadon Sancho fizzed a diagonal pass towards Cole Palmer, who was stationed out on the left flank.

Palmer looked to catch Brighton’s backline off-guard and volleyed the ball across goal with a first-time effort.

However, the Chelsea star’s effort was directed towards Verbruggen and looked like it would be a routine save for the Dutchman.

Instead, the Seagulls goalkeeper misjudged the flight and bounce of the ball as it cannoned off his shoulder and into the back of the net.

A number of the Brighton players put their hands on their heads in sheer disbelief at their teammate’s shocking error.

Speaking on commentary, talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook labelled it as ‘an absolute calamity from Verbruggen.’

Former Watford striker Deeney was equally ruthless in his analysis.

“What a stinker,” Deeney said.

“What an absolute stinker the fella has had there.”

Deeney added: “He [Palmer] actually shanks it into the ground, it bounces into the keeper and he falls backwards towards his goal, hits his shoulder and goes in.

“It’s awful, awful goalkeeping. The best part about it as we’re watching the replays is seeing all the Brighton players, all the confidence has just gone.

“They must be feeling 7-0 is coming again.”

It is not the first time this season Verbruggen has been shaky at the back.

In fact, the 22-year-old has made four errors leading to a goal in the Premier League, with only Robert Sanchez and Ipswich Town goalkeeper Arijanet Muric producing more (five).

Luckily for Verbruggen, Brighton found an equaliser just seven minutes later.

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Verbruggen will have wanted the ground to swallow him whole after his error[/caption]

Seagulls defender Joel Veltman popped in a cross from just outside the box and was deftly flicked on by Georginio Rutter.

The pace on Rutter’s header left Chelsea goalkeeper Sanchez with no chance as the hosts swiftly got back on level terms.

More to follow…