Premier League: Brentford Hammer Chelsea As Alonso’s Defensive Woes Continue

Chelsea’s Premier League struggles continued on Friday night as Brentford condemned Xabi Alonso’s side to a deserved 3-0 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho struck after half-time as Brentford punished a second-half collapse from the visitors.

Chelsea had looked the more composed side during the opening 45 minutes, imposing themselves on the hosts without managing to create enough of a goal threat.

However, their defensive weaknesses returned after the break, with Brentford taking advantage of poor marking and costly lapses to claim all three points.

Anthony opened the scoring in the 61st minute after Mikkel Damsgaard’s corner found Jannik Schuster, who headed the ball across goal for Anthony to finish from close range.

Brentford doubled their advantage when Kevin Schade broke through Chelsea’s defence and forced a save from Emiliano Martinez, only for Thiago to react quickest and score the rebound.

Carvalho completed the rout in stoppage time, driving a low cross from Schade into the net to send the home supporters into celebration.

The defeat extended Chelsea’s winless Premier League run to three matches and provided another unwanted statistic for Alonso.

The Spaniard has now become only the sixth manager to see his team concede at least two goals in each of his first five Premier League matches, joining Mick McCarthy, Sammy Lee, Terry Connor, Slavisa Jokanovic and Scott Parker.

Chelsea’s summer overhaul was reflected in their starting XI, with Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck making their first Premier League starts for the club.

At 36, Henderson and 35, Welbeck were also the oldest English players to start a Premier League match for Chelsea since 36-year-old John Terry against Sunderland in May 2017.

Chelsea started positively, with Welbeck showing clever footwork before setting up Pedro Neto, whose drive was saved by Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

But the visitors struggled to create the fluid attacking combinations they have shown previously, particularly with Joao Pedro absent through injury.

Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers both showed flashes of danger, while Rogers had a late first-half effort blocked by Schuster.

Brentford’s best opening before the interval fell to Yehor Yarmoliuk, whose low effort was comfortably saved by Martinez.

The home side then made Chelsea pay for their defensive lapses after the break.

Two Brentford players were left unmarked from Damsgaard’s corner for the opening goal, while the second came after a simple through-ball exposed the space between Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana.