Liam Rosenior marked his first Premier League match in charge of Chelsea with a priceless 2-0 victory over Brentford, as João Pedro's vicious first-half strike and Cole Palmer's late penalty settled a tense west London derby at Stamford Bridge. The scoreline, however, told only part of the story on an afternoon when Brentford created the better chances but were undone by erratic finishing and one calamitous defensive error.
Brentford arrived unbeaten in six league games and spent long stretches on top, especially after the interval, yet left empty-handed after failing to convert pressure into goals and being punished ruthlessly in the decisive moments. Chelsea, who had won only once in nine league outings beforehand and were playing against the backdrop of supporter unrest, were far from convincing but found enough resilience – and enough quality in both penalty areas – to climb above their neighbours into sixth place.
Bees Start on the Front Foot as Chelsea Feel the Strain
Discontent framed the contest even before kick-off, with roughly 100-200 Chelsea supporters staging a protest against the ownership outside the Britannia Gate and chanting the names of former owner Roman Abramovich and former head coach Enzo Maresca. Inside a muted Stamford Bridge, Rosenior's side began nervously, allowing Keith Andrews' Brentford to seize the initiative in the opening exchanges.