Image source: theguardian.com
Chelsea ended their wait for a Premier League victory under new manager Liam Rosenior with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Brentford at Stamford Bridge. João Pedro opened the scoring in the first half before Cole Palmer sealed the points from the penalty spot with 14 minutes remaining, giving the 41-year-old his first three points as a Premier League manager.
Chelsea End Wait for League Win After João Pedro and Palmer Sink Brentford
The victory came despite Chelsea being far from their best performance, with Rosenior’s hoarse voice after the match reflecting the determination his players showed throughout the west London derby. Palmer’s decisive penalty arrived after Caoimhín Kelleher brought down substitute Liam Delap in the area, adding to João Pedro’s VAR-assisted first-half opener that proved crucial against stubborn Brentford resistance.
Rosenior praised his team’s fighting spirit despite acknowledging they struggled for long periods. “What pleased me most was the players’ willingness to battle and fight. That attitude got us the goals and won us the game. By hook or by crook we did the basics of football,” the manager said with a smile. Several Chelsea players were suffering from a virus that ruled out Estêvão Willian, while Palmer and Reece James had not trained but still made themselves available for selection.
Brentford dominated the early exchanges with Mathias Jensen twice getting behind Marc Cucurella, while Kevin Schade missed a golden opportunity in the 21st minute when he opted to square the ball instead of shooting from a good position. Chelsea’s opener came against the run of play in the 26th minute when Kayode’s clearance deflected off Enzo Fernández to João Pedro, who finished smartly past Kelleher before being initially ruled offside until VAR confirmed he was narrowly onside for his eighth goal of the season.
The visitors continued to create chances with Schade heading wide from Vitaly Janelt’s corner and Jensen hitting the post with a left-foot volley before half-time. The decisive moment arrived when Nathan Collins played a poor back pass to Kelleher, forcing the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper to stretch and clearly catch Delap as he attempted to clear from his penalty area. Palmer made no mistake from the spot to secure Chelsea’s first win in six Premier League games, keeping them on Manchester United’s heels while building faith in Rosenior’s methods among players and fans.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews felt his side deserved at least a point, stating: “We deserved at least a point on the balance of play, but sometimes the game isn’t fair. You have to take opportunities when they come and we didn’t do that.” The defeat ended Brentford’s hopes of extending their unbeaten Premier League run to seven matches, while Chelsea’s victory provided much-needed relief after their tumultuous start to the year under their new manager.
