Brentford 3–0 Chelsea, and it was ugly
Brentford 3–0 Chelsea at the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday. All three goals came after the interval (4). Jaidon Anthony opened it in the 61st minute, then Igor Thiago and Fábio Carvalho finished it off (1)(4).
That is a third straight league game without a win, and it is now 12 goals conceded in five Premier League matches (1). You are seventh on 7 points, with a goal difference of -2.
Xabi Alonso did not dress it up: "Everything was disappointing" (3).
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Alonso on the defence: it is the foundation
"Obrana je temelj," Alonso said, which is Croatian for the defence is the foundation. "We have to be better in that part, we have to be firmer and more efficient. It will come, it is still early and we have time to work on some things" (1).
He also backed Levi Colwill, who said this squad had been bullied on set pieces. Alonso agreed (2)(7). His own line on it: "You need to feel it. We're not feeling it" (8).
Henderson's debut, and a reshaped XI
Jordan Henderson started on his Chelsea debut in the West London derby (9). Alonso had changed the side heavily and Brentford took the game after the break (4).
No João Pedro, and the goals have dried up
João Pedro is out injured. Defending was the problem, and now scoring is one too (10).
Enzo Fernández went to City
Enzo Fernández left for Manchester City on Deadline Day. Danny Mills called it a "game changer" for his old club (13).
Sánchez is playing at Como
Robert Sánchez is on a season-long loan at Como and made his debut against Parma. Cesc Fàbregas was pleased: "Robert Sánchez is a player who comes from a very important team, he won trophies and he is under constant pressure. Since he arrived he has been perfect for me; we didn't expect this at the start" (14).
Fan reactions
The mood is grim and the numbers are doing the talking. Chelsea fans are pointing at Alonso's record, the only sixth manager in Premier League history to see his side concede 2+ goals in each of his first five games, and at Colwill's admission that the team has been bullied on set pieces (link). One fan is finding hope in the three games before a 13-game win streak that ended in a title, and openly admits it is coping (link). Barco's first league start is the one bright spot being passed around (link).
