Chelsea's defensive frailties and difficulties on set pieces were on full display under manager Xabi Alonso as Brentford secured a convincing 3-0 triumph in the West London derby, further highlighting the Blues' ongoing problems at the back. The opening goal came with relative ease for the Bees.

After Mikkel Damsgaard delivered a corner, Jannik Schuster rose to meet the ball and flicked it across the six-yard area. Unmarked and positioned perfectly, Jaidon Anthony met the delivery with a sharp header, directing the ball into the net from just a few yards out.

The goal underscored Brentford's clinical use of set‑piece opportunities and left Chelsea reeling. Chelsea responded by pushing higher up the pitch in search of an equaliser, shifting to a back‑four formation to add more bodies in attack.

The tactical adjustment, however, opened up space for Brentford on the break. Kevin Schade exploited the gap, sprinting forward and finding himself one‑on‑one with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.

Martínez managed to parry the initial shot, but the rebound fell to Igor Thiago, who slotted home from close range, ending a personal run of seven games without a goal and restoring Brentford's lead. As the match entered its final stages, Brentford sealed the victory with a third strike.

Fabio Carvalho, who had been sidelined for nearly a year due to a serious injury, made a dramatic return to the scoresheet. After Schade delivered a precise cross into the box, Carvalho timed his run to the far post and, unmarked, tucked the ball home, marking his first Premier League goal since his lengthy lay‑off. The result leaves Chelsea with a total of 12 goals conceded in just five Premier League fixtures – the highest tally in the division at this point in the season. Their quest for a clean sheet remains unfulfilled, and the defensive record continues to be a major concern for Alonso and his coaching staff.

Offensively, the Blues were equally underwhelming. The absence of the injured João Pedro was keenly felt, as his replacement, Danny Welbeck, failed to create any clear-cut chances.

Moisés Caicedo, another key figure missing, was replaced by Jordan Henderson, who made his first start for Chelsea against his former club but struggled to make a significant impact. While Cole Palmer showed moments of promise, the overall attacking output was limited to a solitary effort from Pedro Neto in the ninth minute, which was comfortably saved by Brentford's goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Brentford, meanwhile, have become the first team this season to keep Chelsea from scoring, extending their unbeaten run and climbing to third place in the league table.

For Chelsea, this defeat marks their third consecutive Premier League game without a win under Alonso's stewardship. Key match moments included: - 9': A save by Kelleher after Welbeck set up Neto, who struck but was denied.

- 41': Morgan Rogers' shot was blocked by Schuster inside the penalty area. - 50': Anthony's header struck the bar; replays suggested he was level with the offside line. - 61': Brentford took the lead when Schuster headed Damsgaard's corner across and Anthony nodded it in.

- 82': Schade's breakthrough one‑on‑one was saved, but Thiago tapped in the rebound. - 90+4': Carvalho completed the scoring, tapping Schade's cross at the far post. After the match, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso spoke to Sky Sports, expressing his disappointment: "I'm disappointed with the second half and with the result.

This is not enough to compete in the Premier League. We were not able to maintain our level for the full 90 minutes and that's why we were punished today. It's about everything – the mentality, the football and the tactical things that we need to keep improving.

We can do much better." When asked whether João Pedro's absence influenced the outcome, Alonso replied, "It's not about looking for excuses. We need to look at each other and know that we have to work and improve because there is still a long way to go. We have to check many things.

We got into situations, but we were not precise enough with the final action. That's why we didn't score." Brentford manager Keith Andrews also shared his thoughts with Sky Sports, highlighting the emotional roller‑coaster of football: "I think it's important that you enjoy these nights. There's no point hiding it.

There are some tough days in the game, and you've got to enjoy the different emotions. I felt like there was something bubbling towards tonight. I have this unbelievable calm around the team because I trust them, so it's nice to see it come to fruition. I see humility and hunger within the group every day.

We're very respectful of each other, but we're going to get better. We have to continue improving in this league. We try to push boundaries and be really open with each other.

Let's continue on our journey because I'm loving it." The defeat adds pressure on Alonso to address both defensive organization and attacking creativity. With the season still in its early stages, Chelsea must find a way to tighten up at the back while also rediscovering the goal‑scoring threat that has been missing since the loss of key players.

Their next fixtures will be crucial in determining whether they can reverse this downward trend or continue to slip down the Premier League table.