Brentford laid bare Chelsea’s defensive frailties as they handed the Blues a bruising 3-0 defeat last nite, leaving Xabi Alonso with lot to consider during the three-week international break.
Chelsea have taken just one point from their last three league matches after a bright start to life under the former Real Madrid coach.
Unbeaten Brentford climbed above their west London neighbours into third place thanks to goals from Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho, AFP reported.
Chelsea had swiftly established themselves as the Premier League’s great entertainers under Alonso with their first four games having 19 goals.
But the Blues’ free-flowing attacking game was curtailed by Joao Pedro’s knee injury while Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers were easily contained by the Bees.
Alonso stated he was hoping for more “boring” games to come after last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Hull.
The Spaniard made four changes in all and handed Jordan Henderson his first Chelsea start against his previous team.
Alonso got his way in a bland first half where neither custodian was particularly pushed but Brentford were the more dangerous side in the second stanza.
The visitors struggled with set pieces and were caught out for the opening goal when Jannick Schuster got the highest to a Mikkel Damsgaard corner and Anthony had the simplest of tasks to head into an empty net just after the hour.
Chelsea’s response was quiet and as they surged forward in quest of an equaliser, Alonso’s players were picked off on the counter-attack.
Emi Martinez put Kevin Schade through on goal for a second time, but he should have scored.
The Argentine custodian had extended himself to make the save but the rebound dropped nicely for Thiago to break his goal drought.
The Brazilian tallied 25 goals last term and was a surprise call-up to Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad.
In the early stages of the campaign, Thiago has looked shaved and ripped off his jersey in excitement after scored for the first time in the Premier League this season.
Since Alonso took charge, Chelsea have now conceded at least two goals in all five league games and the punishment continued in stoppage time.
Schade’s low cross was turned into the path of Carvalho, who blasted over Martinez, and Brentford boss Keith Andrews let out a cry of delight into the nite sky.
They are just behind defending champions Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the league, having also beaten Tottenham 3-0 on the opening weekend of the season.
But for Chelsea, it was again another reminder of how far Alonso has to go to make them title challengers again.
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