A trio of second-half goal scorers marched Brentford past Chelsea and into third place on the Premier League table following a 3-0 win Friday at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Jaidon Anthony broke open a scoreless game in the 61st minute and Kevin Schade played a part in late goals for Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho as Brentford stayed unbeaten in running the record to 2W-3D-0L.
MORE — Premier League scoring leaders | Latest standings
Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea are now winless in three after winning their first two games, losses to Arsenal and Brentford sandwiched around a draw with Hull City as the Spaniard reaches the first real problem point of his tenure in London.
Keep it locked here all day for Brentford vs Chelsea team news, live updates, video highlights, analysis, and more.
Confidence pumps through Brentford’s blood
There are no passengers for Keith Andrews’ Bees. As my colleague Andy Edwards texted our group chat, it’s crazy that hiring the club’s set piece coach to replace legend Thomas Frank has worked out this well, but maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that one of the Premier League’s mathematical success stories alongside Bournemouth and Brighton knows how to replace key figures. Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago have replaced Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa. Jannik Schuster looks incredible for a 20-year-old defender. There hasn’t been a big drop-off from David Raya to Caoimhin Kelleher, and there are so many reasons for Brentford fans to dream of a return to Europe.
Joao Pedro makes it one key absence too many
Chelsea didn’t have its busy, creative, powerful Brazilian star up top and it affected the freedom and confidence of Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer. Danny Welbeck wasn’t bad, but the veteran isn’t a straw to stir the drink like Pedro, who Xabi Alonso had compared favorably to Erling Haaland earlier this month. With Moises Caicedo still out and Reece James joining him on the sidelines for this game, Chelsea also didn’t have its starpower in the center of the park. Valentin Barco wasn’t bad and Jordan Henderson didn’t look rusty, but it’s difficult to go to Brentford and thrive with names like James and Caicedo unable to feature at all — let alone from the jump. Alonso’s Blues with stew on this loss for three weeks before they get a chance to get back in the win column.
What’s next?
The international break.
Then Brentford return to the Premier League for an October 10 match at Aston Villa, kicking off the same time as a 10am ET scrap between Chelsea and Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
Brentford vs Chelsea final score: 3-0
Jaidon Anthony 61', Igor Thiago 83', Fabio Carvalho 90+4'
Kevin Schade has a long solo breakaway but Emiliano Martinez makes a leg save.
Igor Thiago was tracking the play and pops the rebound home for 2-0.
Plus stoppage, of course.
The Blues have won a couple of corners but Brentford are stuck together inside the 18, defending well.
Lewis-Potter’s day is done in favor of another defender — ex-West Ham man El Hadji Malick Diouf — while Dango Ouattara replaces the goal scorer Anthony.
Brentford make two moves, bringing Mamadou Sangare and Aaron Hickey into the game for Yarmoliuk and Kayode.
Chelsea remove Welbeck and Fofana for Geovany Quenda and Joshua Acheampong.
Brentford lead 1-0 with just under 20 minutes to play.
The Bees are rewarded for their work with a goal off a corner kick.
Mikkel Damsgaard’s service from the right is nodded back across goal by young Jannik Shuster, who has been quite good, and Jaidon Anthony bursts toward the ball to head home from close range.
1-0 Bees, 61'
It’s only a five-minute (or so) span, but Brentford have sorted something out here.
The Bees look more likely to score and Chelsea may need to change or shift some personnel here.
xG is deadlocked at 0.39 a piece over 45 minutes.
Shots are 7-4 to Brentford, but Chelsea hold 54% possession.
Brentford improved quite a bit toward the end of the half, with Keane Lewis-Potter poking and prodding to get the Bees toward the Chelsea 18.
He zips down the left side and cuts a sharp pass to Morgan Rogers.
The Chelsea man snaps first-time toward goal but it’s blocked out for a corner kick.
Henderson’s service is eventually controlled by his former teammate Kelleher.
0-0, 43'.
Yehor Yarmoliuk has been Brentford’s best performer so far this evening and he’s on the end of a counter attack.
The Ukrainian hits a low shot toward Emiliano Martinez’s right and the keeper gets low to collect t with relative ease.
0-0, 38'.
The danger isn’t screaming off the pitch but Chelsea are in control of the ball and living in Brentford’s half.
Center midfielders Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson are leading the game in touches, with Pep Chavarria just behind the duo.
Chelsea win a free kick just outside the box on the rifght side. Chelsea put their wall in front of Brentford’s wall.
Morgan Rogers dips the ball over both but right into the hands of Kelleher.
0-0 now into the 31st minute.
The Bees had looked bright, and now Chelsea get going in attack.
Caoimhin Kelleher makes a fine save to deny Pedro Neto’s curler from inside the area.
Keith Andrews plugs Yehor Yarmoliuk into the starting lineup and Jannik Schuster also gets a start.
Rico Henry and Mamadou Sangare are on the bench.
Starting XI
Kelleher
Kayode
Ajer
Schuster
Lewis-Potter
Janelt
Yarmoliuk
Damsgaard
Anthony
Schade
Thiago
Subs: Balcombe, Hickey, Henry, Ouattara, Wilson, Carvalho, Sangare, Diouf, Fredrick
The Blues have neither Reece James nor Joao Pedro in the team today, while Romeo Lavia, Jorell Hato, and Malo Gusto miss out on the XI in favor of Pep Chavarria, Valentin Barco, and Jordan Henderson.
Starting XI
Martinez
Fofana
Lacroix
Colwill
Neto
Henderson
Barco
Chavarria
Palmer
Rogers
Welbeck
Subs: Penders, Gusto, Hato, Acheampong, Lavia, Nicoll-Jazuli, Gittens, Estevao, Quenda
Brentford’s star of last season, Igor Thiago, is yet to bag a Premier League goal this season but boss Keith Andrews has a lot of time for him.
“I’m really comfortable with where he is and how he came back from the World Cup,” Andrews said. “It didn’t go as well as he would have liked, and he would be the first to admit that. That was for various reasons.
“We shouldn’t lose sight of what he achieved last season and the mountain he climbed to do what he did for us. We value him so much as a player, not just because of his goals. He’s in a good place and he’s enjoying his football. He loves being here and we love having him here.”
An interesting pregame quote from Xabi Alonso on Cole Palmer, who was off his standards last season but looks fantastic early this season.
“I think there’s some more to come from Cole,” Alonso said. “I’m very happy with Cole. The way he has prepared since the first day of pre-season, he’s been there. He has shown this desire to enjoy his game.”
Read more at Chelsea’s web site.
This West London derby began in 1935, but Brentford and Chelsea have only met 25 times in 90+ years.
Brentford had a nice run between 2022 and 2023, winning thrice and drawing once in the Premier League, but Chelsea have two wins and three draws from the last five outings.
All-time, Chelsea lead the series 12W-6D-7L.
Keith Andrews’ unbeaten men have their biggest test of the season so far, a campaign which has gone pretty well. There isn’t a bad team amongst their opponents, but Chelsea are certainly the top team of the five.
Brentford 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur — Recap, video highlights
Leeds United 1-1 Brentford
Brentford 1-1 Sunderland
AFC Bournemouth 2-2 Brentford
Not a single zero to be found among Chelsea’s four Premier League results this young season.
Fulham 2-3 Chelsea — Recap, video highlights
Chelsea 4-3 Brighton & Hove Albion — Recap, video
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea - Recap, video highlights
Chelsea 2-2 Hull City - Recap, video highlights
Start time: 3pm ET Friday
TV Channel: USA
Stream link: Watch on USA
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium — West London
