Brentford’s clinical second-half performance proved too much for West London rivals Chelsea as the home team thumped the Blues 3-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium and dealt a significant tactical blow to Xabi Alonso and his team ahead of the international break. This notable victory keeps Brentford clear at the top of the Premier League after an unbeaten beginning to the season and puts Keith Andrews’ team into third in the standings while leaving Chelsea with just one point from their previous three games. (NBC Sports)
After a closely fought scoreless first-half, Brentford took the lead after 61 minutes when Jaidon Anthony scored with a header after a Jannik Schuster flick-on. With Chelsea pushing bodies forward looking for the equalizer, the Bees hit them on the counterattack and doubled their lead courtesy of striker Igor Thiago in the 83rd minute, who calmly finished a loose rebound in the box. Substitute Fbio Carvalho then added a third in stoppage time in style as he scored from close range. (The Hindu/Reuters)
The defeat also highlighted Chelsea’s long-standing defensive infirmity since Alonso took over, with the Blues conceding 2-plus goals in all five of his Premier League games in charge, and now a woeful run of 21 games without a clean sheet in the league. Without their top scorer, Joo Pedro, also resting alongside captain Reece James and midfielder Moiss Caicedo, Chelsea struggled to find any fluency in attack as Brentford’s disciplined defensive shape followed a ruthless template of punishing turnovers and securing a momentous away day that will ripple through West London with the international break approaching. (Fox Sports)
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