LONDON: As Chelsea’s ownership climbed down from plans to join a breakaway Super League, the team climbed into the top four of the Premier League with a far-from-impressive 0-0 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday.

Thomas Tuchel’s side were stifled inside Stamford Bridge, barely creating a clear-cut chance against the relegation-threatened visitors who nearly snatched victory in the final 15 minutes as Danny Welbeck struck the post.

Defender Ben White was sent off in stoppage time for Brighton after collecting a second yellow card.

The point moved Chelsea above West Ham United on goal difference and into fourth place, the final Champions League qualification position. Chelsea and West Ham play each other on Saturday.

There was more to celebrate outside the stadium for Chelsea fans who had gathered before the match to protest against the clubs decision, first announced late Sunday, to help create a new, closed-off European league for elite clubs.

Kickoff was delayed by 15 minutes after Chelseas team bus was slowed getting into Stamford Bridge because of the protests. Petr Cech, Chelsea’s technical director, got off the bus to talk to the angry supporters, who could be heard calling him a traitor in video footage on social media.

Cech called on demonstrators to clear the roads to allow the team bus to reach the stadium, shouting “give us time” before being drowned out by angry fans.

The protests turned to celebrations as reports filtered through that Chelsea had begun the process of withdrawing from the breakaway league with fans singing: “We’ve got our club back.”

“It was nice to see the supporters out there, it was nice to see that feeling, that emotion, and everyone’s response today,” Brighton manager Graham Potter said. “It was universal in how everyone got behind the issue.”

Chelsea were believed to have initially agreed to sign up after fearing they would be left behind financially. But they have back-tracked following furious criticism that culminated in the protest on their own doorstep.

Chelsea fans had unfurled banners reading: “RIP Football 1863 - 2021”, “Created by the poor, stolen by the rich”, “We want our cold nights in Stoke” and “[Chelsea owner] Roman [Abramovich] do the right thing”.

By the time the players walked onto the pitch, the news had broken that the Super League scheme was in tatters.

During the game, Manchester City became the first club to confirm their withdrawal from the scheme, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham also confirming their exits.

Tuchel said his team had been distracted by the outpouring of anger at the breakaway plan.

“I was affected so I think the players were affected. We talk of nothing else but Super League before the match,” he told the BBC. “Nobody asked about the match before. It is like this. You have to accept the distraction.

“We made big mistakes, looked tired, mentally tired,” Tuchel said. “We did not deserve to win which is maybe for the first time since I come here.”

Brighton moved seven points clear of the relegation zone and have a game in hand over third-from-last Fulham.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2021