Brentford held on for their third Premier League win of the season as goals from Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo sank a wasteful Chelsea in the west London derby at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues, who had 17 shots to Brentford’s seven, were punished through Pinnock’s thumping header from Mbeumo’s wicked cross.
With Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez up the field for a late corner, Neal Maupay led a Brentford counter-attack and set up Mbeumo for the second.
Chelsea, who went closest in the first half when Noni Madueke struck the woodwork, slipped to a ninth home defeat this year thanks to some poor finishing.
Brentford keeper Mark Flekken was never truly stretched and the visitors defended resolutely before hitting Chelsea on the break.
Victory lifted Brentford to 10th in the table, one point and one place above Chelsea.
Brilliant Bees sting Chelsea
Brentford have won on all three of their visits to Stamford Bridge as a Premier League club, and, although Chelsea were largely the better side, Brentford still created their fair share of chances.
Mathias Jensen was given room down the right just after half-time, cutting the ball back to Vitaly Janelt, who guided his shot straight at Sanchez.
Brentford’s goal was also created down the right when Mbeumo fired in a brilliant, pacy delivery and Pinnock sprinted to meet it with a powerful header.
On the break Yegor Yarmolyuk was clean through when he was kept out by Sanchez, before Mbeumo stabbed a shot narrowly wide.
Thomas Frank’s side added a second when Mbeumo tapped the ball into an empty net with only Sanchez nearby.
After a slow start to the season Brentford have now won two games in succession while extending their unbeaten run in London derbies to 13 matches.
Blues wasteful at the Bridge
Chelsea have yet to find their groove under Mauricio Pochettino.
Against Brentford – a side often praised for their organisation and defensive rigidity – they initially cut through at will, with Madueke curling an effort against the post in the first 10 minutes.
Cole Palmer looked impressive and crossed for an unmarked Marc Cucurella midway through the first half, but his first-time shot was straight at Flekken.
After the restart Chelsea’s wastefulness became more apparent and they did not have a shot on target in the second half.
Since February Chelsea have won only two home league matches – against relegated Leeds last season and newly promoted Luton this term – and have failed to score in four of their 10 games this season.
Chelsea host on Blackburn in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and Brentford entertain West Ham in the Premier League next Saturday.
Player of the match
MbeumoBryan Mbeumo
Chelsea
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Squad number20Player namePalmer
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Squad number23Player nameGallagher
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Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
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Squad number26Player nameColwill
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Squad number3Player nameCucurella
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Squad number1Player nameSánchez
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Squad number7Player nameSterling
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Squad number11Player nameMadueke
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Squad number2Player nameDisasi
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Squad number24Player nameJames
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Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
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Squad number36Player nameDeivid Washington
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Squad number29Player nameMaatsen
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Squad number15Player nameJackson
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Squad number16Player nameUgochukwu
Brentford
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Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
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Squad number5Player namePinnock
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Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
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Squad number2Player nameHickey
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Squad number22Player nameCollins
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Squad number8Player nameJensen
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Squad number7Player nameMaupay
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Squad number27Player nameJanelt
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Squad number20Player nameAjer
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Squad number11Player nameWissa
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Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
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Squad number14Player nameGhoddos
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Squad number15Player nameOnyeka
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Squad number33Player nameYarmolyuk
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Squad number1Player nameFlekken
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Sánchez
- 2DisasiSubstituted forJamesat 67′minutes
- 6Thiago Silva
- 26Colwill
- 3CucurellaSubstituted forde Souza Eugênioat 81′minutes
- 23Gallagher
- 25CaicedoBooked at 77minsSubstituted forUgochukwuat 81′minutes
- 11MaduekeSubstituted forMaatsenat 67′minutes
- 20Palmer
- 7Sterling
- 15Jackson
Substitutes
- 5Badiashile
- 16Ugochukwu
- 24James
- 27Gusto
- 28Petrovic
- 29Maatsen
- 36de Souza Eugênio
- 50Beach
- 52Matos
Brentford
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Flekken
- 20Ajer
- 5Pinnock
- 22Collins
- 30Roerslev
- 8JensenSubstituted forOnyekaat 64′minutesBooked at 85mins
- 6NørgaardBooked at 90mins
- 27JaneltSubstituted forYarmolyukat 76′minutes
- 2HickeySubstituted forGhoddosat 84′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 19Mbeumo
- 11WissaSubstituted forMaupayat 76′minutesBooked at 56mins
Substitutes
- 7Maupay
- 13M Jorgensen
- 14Ghoddos
- 15Onyeka
- 16Mee
- 21Strakosha
- 33Yarmolyuk
- 37Olakigbe
- 38Brierley
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
- Attendance:
- 39,575
Live Text
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Match ends, Chelsea 0, Brentford 2.
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Second Half ends, Chelsea 0, Brentford 2.
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Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) is shown the yellow card.
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Goal! Chelsea 0, Brentford 2. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Neal Maupay following a fast break.
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Saman Ghoddos (Brentford) is shown the yellow card.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Saman Ghoddos.
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Attempt blocked. Reece James (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Foul by Reece James (Chelsea).
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Yehor Yarmolyuk (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Mads Roerslev.
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Attempt missed. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Neal Maupay with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Yehor Yarmolyuk (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Mads Roerslev.
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Attempt missed. Deivid Washington (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Cole Palmer.
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Attempt missed. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Reece James.
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Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Yehor Yarmolyuk (Brentford).
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Attempt missed. Thiago Silva (Chelsea) header from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Conor Gallagher with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Nathan Collins.
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Frank Onyeka (Brentford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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