Chelsea suffered their fourth loss of the season in the Premier League after a 2-0 defeat to Brentford on Saturday afternoon.
Premier League
Result: Chelsea 0-2 Brentford
Date: 28 October 2023
Venue: Stamford Bridge
The Blues made three changes from the side that was held to a draw by Arsenal, as Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson returned to lead the line alongside recalls for Axel Disasi and Noni Madueke.
Maurio Pochettino's charges had a quick start, with a flurry of chances in the opening exchanges as on ten minutes Madueke came very close with a strike that came off the crossbar.
Chelsea maintained their momentum and Raheem Sterling had great chance midway through the first stanza after going through on goal from a pass by Cole Palmer but he fired his shot over the crossbar from close-range.
The hosts continued to have chance after chance but they were not clinical in front of goal and Palmer had chance on the stroke of half-time with a free-kick just outside the box but sent his shot over the top.
After hardly threatening in the first stanza, Brentford showed attacking intent from the break and Ethan Pinnock eventually broke the deadlock for the Bees on the hour-mark with a free header at the back post after a cross by Bryan Mbeumo.
Pochettino reacted with a double change seven minutes later, as Reece James and Ian Maatsen both came on for Disasi and Madueke to stretch Brentford on the wings.
Thomas Frank's men kept a good shape and discipline defensively, as they did not allow Chelsea spaces in and around their box.
The Blues pressurized Brentford in the dying minutes but the visitors had a glorious chance to seal the three points on a counter-attack after Yegor Yarmolyuk pulled clear but he was denied by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez in a one-on-one.
However, another glorious opportunity presented itself for the Bees in the tail end of added time after Sanchez joined his teammates for a corner at the other end but he was caught way out of his goal in a counter-attack, as Mbeumo raced clear to score into an empty net after he was assisted by Neal Maupay.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments
