FROM STAMFORD BRIDGE – Chelsea’s miserable start to the 2023/24 season continued with a 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford in the west London derby.
The Bees have won all three of their trips to the Blues since promotion to the Premier League and have climbed above their neighbours into tenth place.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were booed off at full-time and there is work to do ahead of their next league outing – a trip to high-flying Tottenham Hotspur.
How the game unfolded
Chelsea went close to taking a 10th-minute lead on the counter when Noni Madueke was afforded space to run in behind Vitaly Janelt, who was covering space for the out-of-position Aaron Hickey. The winger cut inside and unleashed a fierce strike from the edge of the box, rattling the underside of the crossbar.
Conor Gallagher was next to try his luck from range as Brentford reset themselves defensively, forcing Mark Flekken into a low save to his right.
Another chance came and went for Chelsea when Cole Palmer floated a delicious cross over the Bees backline for Marc Cucurella, whose volley went straight down the throat of a grateful Flekken.
Soon after, Raheem Sterling fluffed his lines after the ball worked its way to him out on the right-hand side of the 18 yard box, and he fired into the Matthew Harding Stand.
After the break, Brentford created their first opportunity of note, with Kristoffer Ajer galloping forward and reaching the byline to cut the ball back for Vitaly Janelt, whose strike was beaten away by Robert Sanchez.
On 58 minutes, the visitors took the lead against the run of play. Chelsea switched off from a Brentford throw and Bryan Mbeumo was able to freely cross for Ethan Pinnock, who managed to simply nod in at the back post.
Chelsea pushed forward late on in search of a leveller but found chances hard to come by. Thiago Silva headed the ball right across the face of goal from a Conor Gallagher corner but no one in blue was able to find a decisive touch to divert it in.
Substitute Deivid Washington was then denied from close range before Brentford spurned a huge chance to kill the game on the break from the resulting corner, with Robert Sanchez standing tall to keep out Yehor Yarmolyuk. Seconds later, Mbeumo fired wide from a similar distance as Chelsea were twice let off the hook.
Sanchez went forward for one last corner at the end of added time and was made to pay when Brentford raced down the other end to convert their second goal, with Neal Maupay selflessly teeing up Mbeumo to roll the ball into an empty net.
GK: Robert Sanchez – 6/10 – A decent performance after such a disastrous one against Arsenal. Distributed the ball well and came up with a huge save to deny Janelt and then Yarmolyuk. Not helped out by his defenders for Pinnock’s goal.
RB: Axel Disasi – 5/10 – Mostly fine defensively but offered little support in attack, which is understandable given he’s a centre-back by trade. Beaten by Pinnock for the opener, however.
CB: Thiago Silva – 6/10 – Hardly tested by Brentford’s quick forwards and held his own in aerial battles.
CB: Levi Colwill – 6/10 – His similar lack of pace didn’t prove to be much of an issue for Chelsea. Marauded forward on occasion.
LB: Marc Cucurella – 5/10 – Did well to nullify the threat of wing-back Roerslev though needed further support to dampen Ajer. Wasteful in the attacking third.
CM: Moises Caicedo – 5/10 – Calmer in possession today than in previous games and dutifully broke up play.
CM: Conor Gallagher – 6/10 – Always found a way to emerge with possession when surrounded by Brentford bodies. Chelsea’s main midfield problem was the lack of a natural deep-lying playmaker.
RM: Noni Madueke – 6/10 – Threatening early on and seemed to have rediscovered his mojo, but found it increasingly tough to break down Brentford’s deep block.
AM: Cole Palmer – 6/10 – Chelsea’s best outfielder and brightest spark, always trying to bring the game to life with a flick or a trick, a cross or a pass.
LM: Raheem Sterling – 5/10 – Like Madueke had a lot of joy when Brentford were unsettled but didn’t have a lot of joy when they defended deeper.
CF: Nicolas Jackson – 4/10 – Failed to impose himself on the game and was the subject of abuse from an angry fan on the touchline just before the break, to which Pochettino furiously told him to ‘support the team’.
Substitutes
SUB: Reece James (67′ for Disasi) – 5/10
SUB: Ian Maatsen (67′ for Madueke) – 5/10
SUB: Deivid Washington (81′ for Caicedo) – 5/10
SUB: Lesley Ugochukwu (81′ for Cucurella) – 5/10
Subs not used: Djordje Petrovic (GK), Eddie Beach (GK), Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile, Alex Matos
Manager
Mauricio Pochettino – 5/10 – Chelsea started well but were unable to make the most of that spell and had a hard time breaking down Brentford when they retreated.
GK: Mark Flekken – 7/10 – Criticised for his early performances in a Brentford shirt but was much better here. Calm under pressure and came up with some decent saves.
RB: Mads Roerslev – 6/10 – Pushed all the way back by the tandem of Sterling and Cucurella, though to his credit did not wilt.
CB: Kristoffer Ajer – 8/10 – The Norwegian’s freakish athleticism made it incredibly difficult for Chelsea to get in down his side.
CB: Ethan Pinnock – 9/10 – The man mountain lived up to his nickname with a supreme display in both boxes.
CB: Nathan Collins – 8/10 – Like Flekken has endured a rocky start to life at Brentford and like Flekken was a huge net positive today.
LB: Aaron Hickey – 7/10 – Given a tough time by Madueke in the opening stages but recovered very well.
CM: Mathias Jensen – 6/10 – Tidy when on the ball but was unable to pick the lock as often he usually is able to. A threat from set pieces as always.
CM: Christian Norgaard – 7/10 – Popped up across the pitch nipping the ball back and recirculating possession.
CM: Vitaly Janelt – 6/10 – Thundered his way into either box though wasn’t too effective in either despite his relentless intensity.
CF: Bryan Mbeumo – 9/10 – Frank always makes a point to highlight Mbeumo’s selflessness and work rate, with both of those traits proving valuable here.
CF: Yoane Wissa – 5/10 – Never really found a way to trouble Chelsea either in the air or with his pace.
Substitutes
SUB: Frank Onyeka (63′ for Jensen) – 6/10
SUB: Yehor Yarmolyuk (75′ for Janelt) – 6/10
SUB: Neal Maupay (75′ for Wissa) – 7/10
SUB: Saman Ghoddos (84′ for Hickey) – 6/10
Subs not used: Thomas Strakosha (GK), Zanka, Ben Mee, Ethan Brierley, Michael Olakigbe
Manager
Thomas Frank – 8/10 – Brentford came to do a job. They got their reward for resolute defending and opportune counter-attacking.
Player of the match – Ethan Pinnock (Brentford)
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90 Mins
