11 months ago
73
CHELSEA’S four-game unbeaten run came crashing to a halt as local rivals Brentford beat them 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Ethan Pinnock scored early in the second half before Bryan Mbeumo scored a late breakaway goal to seal the win in a game where Chelsea dominated possession but failed to put the ball in the net.
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Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez were expected to play but were ruled out after picking up minor injuries in training on Friday.
Chelsea had been unbeaten in four in all competitions, but the pair’s absence showed as Mauricio Pochettino was forced to re-jig his side and lost some balance in the process.
It meant Cole Palmer moved from the right to the No 10 role, Connor Gallagher dropped deeper into midfield, while Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson returned to the front three.
However, despite Madueke crashing the crossbar in the early stages and dominating possession throughout – having 70% of the ball – they failed to test Brentford keeper Mark Flekken.
Marc Cucurella went closest with a really tame effort from an excellent Palmer cross, with the Blues struggling to create any chances after the break.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Sheen rated those in Blue…
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Robert Sanchez – 5/10
Didn’t particularly have loads to do but made one smart save early in the second-half, getting down well to palm away a long-range effort, before keeping Chelsea in the game late with an excellent one-on-one save as Brentford piled forward on a counter-attack.
Continues to fill supporters with dread with his tendency to hold onto the ball a split second too long. Pushed up for a corner late on and was punished as Mbeumo scored the second.
Axel Disasi – 4
Played at right-back and looked pretty comfortable in possession and defensively, although he obviously couldn’t produce the dynamism going forward that a fully fit Reece James or Malo Gusto could.
Made a crucial mistake for Brentford’s goal, where he found himself out of position and unable to attack the ball before Ethan Pinnock powered home a header.
Thiago Silva – 5
Didn’t do anything particularly wrong throughout the game as Brentford were mostly content to sit with 11 men behind the ball.
Powerless to stop Brentford’s goals.
Levi Colwill – 5
Same as Silva, this won’t be the hardest day of defensive work the young centre-back has to do in his career.
Was aggressive in winning the ball bac which helped Chelsea stay on top of the possession battle.
Marc Cucurella – 5
Excellent in the first half, Cucurella was aggressive in defending his man and excellent getting forward.
Pochettino will probably rue the best chance of the match fell to the defender, his weak volley falling straight into the palms of Flekken after an excellent Cole Palmer cross.
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Moises Caicedo – 4
Struggled without his running mate Enzo next to him, Caicedo did well in winning the ball and shielding his defenders, but his passing was not incisive or threatening.
One could argue that is not Caicedo’s role in the team but spending £100m-plus on a player should come with certain expectations.
Conor Gallagher – 5
Had excelled during Chelsea’s unbeaten run as a high energy No 10 who can initiate the press in the opponent’s defensive third.
Playing deeper here, it is plain to see he does just not have the level of passing required to break down a side who are content to play in a deep defensive block.
Cole Palmer – 7
Started the game extremely well, picking the ball up in dangerous places, drifting into space, dictating everything that Chelsea did well and was clearly the Blues’ best performer.
Provided a couple of stunning crosses – one that Cucurella should’ve scored and one that well could have led to a penalty – but faded as the game went on, with Brentford making a point to double up after half-time.
Alamy
Raheem Sterling – 4
Another player who started well but struggled to have an impact after half-time, Sterling wasted a couple of early openings by either picking the wrong pass or failing to put the ball where it needed to be to score.
Crowded out after half-time as Brentford shut up shop following their goal.
Noni Madueke – 4
Had one brilliant moment in the match, collecting the ball in space and driving at left-back Aaron Hickey, before he cut inside and unleashed a powerful shot that beat Mark Flekken but rocked the crossbar.
Otherwise, Chelsea struggled to get Madueke into a position to do damage, with much of the play running through Palmer and Sterling.
AlamyNicolas Jackson – 4
Was electric in the opening quarter of the game, producing a series of eye-catching flicks, runs, and moments to really set Chelsea on their way.
However, continues to struggle to produce the required quality in the biggest moments – either misplacing his pass, putting it in front or behind a team-mate, or miscontrolling the ball.
If Ivan Toney or Victor Osimhen is available in January, Chelsea must make it a priority to replace one of them.
SUBS
Reece James (for Disasi, 67) – 4
Clearly still working his way back to match fitness and sharpness. Nothing like the powerful threat he has been in the past.
Ian Maatsen (for Madueke, 67) – 4
Couple of moments where he maybe could’ve done better when picking out a pass or cross – but he just doesn’t seem comfortable or natural playing as a right-winger.
Deivid Washington (for Cucurella, 81) – N/A
Brought on to try and grab a late equaliser but barely touched the ball, including when he failed to get onto a cross the agonisingly flashed across the goal.
Lesley Ugochukwu (for Caicedo, 81) – N/A
An extremely raw physical talent who is not yet of the required level – Chelsea would have probably been better keeping Caicedo on in the late stages.
Subs not used: Eddie Beach, Djordje Petrovic, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, Alex Matos.
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