It is not as difficult to win at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea makes it seem. Just ask Brentford.
For the third year in a row, Thomas Frank’s side came to Chelsea and left with all three points, something the Blues have seemingly forgotten to do.
The old look this place once had and the fear factor of opposing sides is long gone, one of the many problems Mauricio Pochettino must try to solve.
It is now just one league win in thirteen at home – against newly promoted Luton – a run that stretches back to March, and three in all of 2023.
It certainly doesn’t help if they argue among themselves.
Brentford secured bragging rights in the West London derby with a 2-0 win over Chelsea
Ethan Pinnock’s curled a header into the back post to give the Bees the lead before the hour mark
Chelsea’s revival has stalled as their poor form at Stamford Bridge continues this season
Frustration was already brewing towards the end of a goalless first half when a supporter attacked striker Nicolas Jackson during a break in play and demanded more from him.
Jackson responded with a finger over his mouth toward the crowd.
Mauricio Pochettino also objected and fired back at the fan, telling them to support the team.
Later there was another row between Pochettino’s number 2 Jesus Perez and Bernardo Cueva, a member of Frank’s backroom team, which saw the Chelsea man sent off for entering Brentford’s technical area and also exposed their annoyance.
As the match progressed there was less and less for Chelsea fans to be excited about and they were once again booed.
After encouraging performances for most of the draw against Arsenal, Chelsea failed to build on a promising first half against Brentford and ultimately ran out of ideas.
They had more possession but Brentford had the better chances and showed increasing intent as the match progressed, not least in the urgency Ethan Pinnock showed to climb above Chelsea’s dozing defenders and slot home the visitors’ opener headed before Bryan Mbeumo added an injury. time, escape second.
Given Brentford’s track record here, it was no surprise that there were well-placed beliefs and expectations when they attacked, but Chelsea looked the most likely goalscorer for much of the first half.
Cole Palmer has been at the center of Chelsea’s most positive moments.
Their latest summer signing has quickly established himself as an essential part of Pochettino’s team, impressing with his versatility, maturity and willingness to take responsibility.
He has two goals and two assists for Chelsea so far and he certainly should have had more of the latter from the first half.
He created chances for Noni Madueke, who hit the crossbar, Raheem Sterling, twice, and Marc Cucurella.
Palmer also bent a free-kick over the crossbar, while Jackson and Conor Gallagher worried Mark Fleken from distance.
Halfway there seemed to be only one winner.
Frank described his side’s performance as ‘average, if not less than that’, while he was delighted with Chelsea.
“You see the exciting potential in the Chelsea team,” he said. ‘If I was associated with Chelsea I would be positive about them. I know it’s all about results, but I’m convinced it will happen.’
Bryan Mbeumo continued his good start to the season with a goal in the dying moments
The attacker kicked the ball into an empty goal after Robert Sánchez gave out a corner
Chelsea struggled to break through the stubborn Brentford defense in Saturday’s derby
But breaking down deep defenses remains a problem for Chelsea. Pochettino said the defeat to Nottingham Forest was one in which his side faced similar problems.
After the break, Chelsea’s chances dried up until a late tie as they chased the game down and Brentford grew in confidence and managed to find the goals to match their performance, which the home side failed to do.
There was one warning before their first as Sánchez extended an arm to deflect Vitaly Janelt’s effort from Kristoffer Ajer’s cutback.
Not long after, Mathias Jensen put Mbeumo behind Chelsea’s defense and delivered a cross that Pinnock flew in to nod past Sánchez, while Pochettino’s defenders took off to pass the ball to each other.
“I’m disappointed he didn’t score more headers because of his size and skill,” Frank said.
Bees boss Frank Thomas has now guided his side to three successive wins at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was left frustrated before being sent off in the second half
Thiago Silva and then Palmer and Deivid Washington had chances to level for Chelsea before Brentford warned Chelsea twice more.
First when they drove clear for a four-on-one counter-attack and Yehor Yarmolyuk was thwarted by Sánchez, and then when Mbeumo cleared Neal Maupay’s cross.
The third time there was no escape for Chelsea. They had everyone ready for a late corner, including goalkeeper Sánchez, but Brentford cleared the ball and Maupay fired clear, leaving Mbeumo on the tee to score into an empty net.
Frank adds: ‘Sometimes it is a coincidence that we have managed to win here three times. But it’s very impressive that we can do that as Brentford, given the players and the budget that Chelsea have.”