Chelsea player ratings: Pedro Neto stakes claim to start more games as Morgan Rogers stars but Maxence Lacroix struggles

CHELSEA held on for a 4-3 victory against Brighton on Sunday as Xabi Alonso started the season with back-to-back wins. Romeo Lavia poked home from close range in the opening four minutes after a defensive lapse by Brighton. Chelsea secured a 4-3 win over Brighton on Sunday to make it two wins from two Credit: AP Pedro Neto impressed by scoring the second goal of the afternoon Credit: AFP And Pedro Neto swept into the corner just ten minutes later to leave Chelsea in full control. Joao Pedro threatened to make it a rout after his smart finish midway through the first half. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Brighton’s Malick Yalcouye volleyed in a superb effort to pull one back before the break before Joao Pedro’s own goal gave Chelsea a nervy finish. Cole Palmer then rifled home for 4-2 and Pascal Gross headed home a third in the late stages as Chelsea clung onto their win. Here is how SunSport Chelsea reporter Dan King rated the players… EMI MARTINEZ – 7 Dealt with first-half set-piece threat well. Distribution sometimes good but inconsistent. Made decent save before visitors’ first but let down by defence. Good second-half stops from Gomez and Boscagli, the latter particularly important. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK WESLEY FOFANA – 7 First half was one of his better ones for a while. Strong in the tackle, bailed colleagues out at times with pace and reading of game. Even made one great forward run. Booked for a hefty foul in second and ran out of gas. MAXENCE LACROIX – 5 Strong in the air throughout but done for pace when Brighton pulled one back and was not only time he was caught on wrong side. Passing was poor at times, too. Typical of his mixed start to life at Stamford Bridge, will need to improve. Maxence Lacroix struggled as he was caught out on a few occasions Credit: Getty LEVI COLWILL – 6 Did fine but no more on his return to the team as captain. Chelsea looked most vulnerable on their left and that was not all Hato’s fault. Won some good headers. Seemed to pick up a knock first half and came off with just under 20 minutes to go. MALO GUSTO – 5 Preferred to Reece James in centre midfield in a role where he had done a decent job for Chelsea before. Fine in the first half but faded in the second as Brighton mounted their fightback. Looked more comfortable as a wing back after changes. PEDRO NETO – 8 Wing back position seems made for him. Blistering pace allowed him in behind several times and snuck in to score second. Should have had assist only for Pedro to miss badly. Was even seen winning an important defensive header. Pedro Neto impressed with his blisering pace i n the wing-back role Credit: Getty ROMEO LAVIA – 7 Understandably delighted with his first goal for four, injury-hit years. But Alonso will be more pleased with first-half strength, calm and precision. Chelsea lost control of the game in the second half and it was no surprise he came off. COLE PALMER – 6 Until his fine goal, was well below very high standards he set in the first two games of the new season. Found it hard to get into game and make things happen. Missed from close range from Rogers cross but curled in crucial fourth. Palmer was below his usual standards but showed his class with a crucial goal Credit: Getty JORELL HATO – 6 Impressive going forward, fabulous run and cross set up the third goal. But caught out of position more than once as Brighton targeted the right channel. Moved inside to when Colwill came off, which feels more his position than wing back. MORGAN ROGERS – 8 Lively from the off, linking up with Neto even before an excellent piece of direct running set up the Portuguese’s goal. Freed Hato for run that led to third. Strength and poise created golden chance for Palmer. Morgan Rogers gave Chelsea energy and legs in midfield Credit: Getty JOAO PEDRO – 7 Worked hard to silence the Brighton boo boys, who loved it when he missed a sitter from Neto’s cutback. Kept plugging away to score the third. Unlucky with the own goal. Quite a day, all in all. Subs JOSH ACHEAMPONG (for Fofana, 68) – 6 Will have been disappointed to be dropped after starting first two games of season. Helped steady the ship with pace, strength and athleticism. REECE JAMES (for Lavia, 68) – 6 Immediately gave Chelsea more presence in midfield. Three full games a week still too much for him, but this was a useful cameo. MOISES CAICEDO (for Neto, 68) – 4 Disastrous return from injury as he lasted barely 10 minutes before pulling up and having to go off again.. Moises Caicedo had a nightmare as he played just 10 minutes before having to go off again Credit: PA PEP CHAVARRIA (for Colwill, 72) – 5 A more natural wing-back than Hato, it was surprising not to see him earlier in the second half. Did nothing wrong or massively right. VALENTIN BARCO (for Caicedo, 82) – 5 Had a few minutes to respond to taunts of fans from his former club about the Falklands. Sent half-chance well wide. Comment now