Brentford beat Chelsea 3-0 in the west London derby on Saturday as three second-half goals did for Alonso’s side. Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho scored for the Bees, who move to third in the Premier League. Chelsea have now gone three games without a win in the Premier League and remain the division’s leakiest defence.
The goals came quickly and were all scored with Chelsea exposed at the back. First, Mikkel Damsgaard’s corner was headed across by Jannik Schuster, leaving Anthony to nod home unmarked from a few yards out. Chelsea pushed for an equaliser and moved to a back four, but Brentford hit them on the counter. Kevin Schade broke through, his one-on-one was saved by Emiliano Martinez, and Thiago tapped in from close range to end his seven-game goal drought.
Carvalho sealed the win with virtually the last kick of the game. He tucked home Schade’s cross while unmarked at the far post, scoring his first Premier League goal since his near-year-long injury lay-off. Brentford had become the first team to stop Chelsea scoring this season, and they did it in emphatic fashion.
Key Moments
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 9th minute | Pedro Neto’s effort kept out by Caoimhin Kelleher |
| 41st minute | Morgan Rogers’ effort blocked by Schuster |
| 50th minute | Anthony strikes the top of the bar, offside flag raised |
| 61st minute | Anthony scores from Damsgaard’s corner |
| 82nd minute | Thiago taps in after Schade’s save |
| 90+4 minutes | Carvalho scores from Schade’s cross |
Chelsea’s Defence Struggles Continue
Chelsea have now conceded 12 goals in five Premier League games. That is the most in the league. The wait for their first top-flight clean sheet of the season goes on.
Alonso admitted the performance was not enough to compete in the Premier League. “I’m disappointed with the second half and with the result,” he told Sky Sports. “This is not enough to compete in the Premier League. We were not able to maintain our level for the full 90 minutes and that’s why we were punished today.”
He pointed to the whole package. “It’s about everything. It’s about the mentality, the football and the tactical things that we need to keep improving. We can do much better.” He also addressed the absence of Joao Pedro. “It’s not about looking for excuses. We need to look at each other and know that we have to work and improve because there is still a long way to go. We have to check many things. We got into situations, but we were not precise enough with the final action. That’s why we didn’t score.”
Brentford’s Unbeaten Start Continues
Brentford continue their unbeaten start to the season. They are up to third in the league.
Keith Andrews spoke about the win with genuine satisfaction. “There’s no point hiding it. There are some tough days in the game, and you’ve got to enjoy the different emotions,” he said. “I felt like there was something bubbling towards tonight. I have this unbelievable calm around the team because I trust them, so it’s nice to see it come to fruition.”
He praised the group’s attitude. “I see humility and hunger within the group every day. We’re very respectful of each other, but we’re going to get better. We have to continue improving in this league.” He added that the team is committed to growth. “We try to push boundaries and be really open with each other. Let’s continue on our journey because I’m loving it.”
Chelsea’s Attack Fails to Deliver
Chelsea struggled to create chances even when they pushed forward. Danny Welbeck failed to generate any clear opportunities in place of the injured Joao Pedro.
Cole Palmer looked bright in flashes, but Chelsea never really threatened. The only notable effort came from Pedro Neto in the ninth minute, which was kept out by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Jordan Henderson made an unsuccessful first start for Chelsea at the club he joined them from, replacing the injured Moises Caicedo. Brentford’s counter-attacks were sharp, and Chelsea’s defence could not cope.
Chelsea’s Season So Far
Here is how Chelsea’s league record looks after three games without a win:
- Conceded 12 goals in five league games — the most in the division
- Three games without a win in the Premier League
- Remain without a clean sheet in the Premier League
- First defeat of the season against Brentford
What Comes Next
Chelsea have three games without a win in the Premier League. Brentford sit third.
The result was a clear sign of Brentford’s quality. The Bees are playing with confidence and purpose, and that shows in their results.
See the video the story is built around at Sky Sports.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.