Chelsea’s season hit a new low as they lost for the fifth league game in a row without scoring in a dismal 3-0 defeat at Brighton.
It's the first time the Blues have endured such a barren run since 1912 as head coach Liam Rosenior faced chants from the away end to be sacked.
Brighton's win, courtesy of goals from Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck, lifted the Seagulls above Chelsea into sixth place as their charge towards the European places gathered even more momentum with four games to go.
It was another embarrassing defeat for the Chelsea hierarchy, who have watched their team beaten three times in a row at the Amex by Brighton despite spending £262 million in recent seasons, signing their key players.
One of those, Moises Caicedo, who cost £120m, was at fault for the second goal scored by Hinshelwood as the Brighton fans revelled in the downfall of him, Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez all of whom had games to forget.
The home fans rubbed salt into the wounds of the visitors by chanting in favour of Rosenior, who ended his playing days and began his coaching career with the Seagulls.
Cole Palmer and top scorer Joao Pedro were notable absentees for the goal-shy Blues and Brighton swiftly ensured this was going to be a tough night for the visitors, scoring after three minutes.
Pascal Gross' corner was poorly flicked on by Jorrel Hato at the near post, allowing Kadioglu to side-foot home via a deflection off Wesley Fofana.
Brighton dominated thereafter.
Sanchez prevented Jan Paul van Hecke doubling Albion's lead before almost gifting his former club a second when Hinshelwood was teed up by Carlos Baleba following a dreadful pass from the Chelsea keeper but, with the goal gaping, his tame effort allowed Trevoh Chalobah to clear off the line.
Chelsea were second best in every department, taking 32 minutes to make a single tackle in the match and only registering their first shot with 43 minutes gone.
Following a slip by Caicedo, Georginio Rutter raced forward and slipped in Hinshelwood who slotted into the bottom left corner.
Explicit chants aimed at Rosenior and Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali emanated from the disgruntled away end in the aftermath of the second goal.
Chelsea's misery was compounded in added time when Welbeck sidefooted in following a low cross from fellow replacement Maxim De Cuyper.
Chelsea switch their attention to the FA Cup on Sunday, where they face Leeds at Wembley in the semi-final.
Liam Rosenior speaking to Your Site:
"That was unacceptable in every aspect of the game. I keep coming out and defending the players, that was indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the duels that we lost. Something has to change drastically right here, right now.
"We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. But I can't keep coming out here and defending some of the things that we're seeing. Manchester United, genuinely result wasn't there but I felt we turned a corner. But the general attitude, spirit was lacking - determination from three or four of the starting eleven. That's nowhere near enough for this club. I can't come out and lie. I tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance at every level."
Former Chelsea captain Gary Cahill on Your Site:
"I said before it was a huge game and one they needed to win and they just got totally outplayed, there are no positives you can take from that game.
"I feel somewhat for Liam [Rosenior], I feel the players let him down, but there are some unpleasant stats out there about Chelsea and they are some tough times ahead.
"And Sunday's FA Cup semi-final is now pivotal for this club, but they look fragile, low on confidence, fragile and in all honesty, it was a difficult watch to be fair."
