Brentford exposed Chelsea\u2019s defensive problems to inflict a damaging 3-0 defeat on Friday that gives Xabi Alonso plenty to ponder over a three-week international break.<\/p>\n
After a promising start to life under the former Real Madrid coach, Chelsea have picked up just one point from their last three league games.<\/p>\n
Goals from Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho took unbeaten Brentford above their west London neighbours and up to third in the table.<\/p>\n
Chelsea had quickly earned the reputation as the Premier League\u2019s great entertainers under Alonso with their opening four games containing 19 goals.<\/p>\n
But the loss of Joao Pedro to a knee injury subdued the Blues\u2019 free-flowing attack as Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers were comfortably kept in check by the Bees.<\/p>\n
Alonso said after last weekend\u2019s 2-2 draw against Hull he was hoping for more \u201cboring\u201d games going forward.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard sought control as he made four changes in all, handing Jordan Henderson his first Chelsea start against the\u00a036-year-old\u2019s former club.<\/p>\n
Alonso got his wish during a flat first half in which neither goalkeeper was seriously tested, but Brentford were the more threatening side in the second period.<\/p>\n
The visitors\u2019 frailty from set-pieces led to the opening goal when Jannick Schuster rose highest to meet Mikkel Damsgaard\u2019s corner and Anthony was left with a simple task to head into an unguarded net just after the hour mark.<\/p>\n
Chelsea\u2019s response was muted and as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Alonso\u2019s men were picked off on the counter-attack.<\/p>\n
Kevin Schade should have scored the second goal himself when played clean through on Emi Martinez.<\/p>\n
But even after the Argentine goalkeeper spread himself to save, the rebound fell kindly for Thiago to end his goal drought.<\/p>\n
The Brazilian netted 25 times last season, earning a shock call-up to Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s World Cup squad as a result.<\/p>\n
Thiago has looked shorn in the early weeks of the campaign and tore off his shirt in celebration after netting for the first time in the Premier League this season.<\/p>\n
Chelsea have conceded at least twice in all five league games under Alonso and there was further punishment to come in stoppage time.<\/p>\n
Schade\u2019s low cross was deflected into the path of Carvalho who fired high past Martinez to leave Brentford boss Keith Andrews yelling into the night sky in delight.<\/p>\n
Brentford, who also beat Tottenham 3-0 on the opening weekend of the season, sit behind only defending champions Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the table.<\/p>\n
By contrast, Chelsea were handed another reminder of the gap Alonso must bridge to make them title contenders once more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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