Liam Rosenior secured his first Premier League victory as Chelsea head coach on Saturday, guiding his side to a gritty 2-0 win over west London rivals Brentford at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Joao Pedro and a Cole Palmer penalty ensured Rosenior claimed his second win in three matches across all competitions since taking charge. The result moves Chelsea up to sixth in the table, offering a stabilising boost to a club currently navigating significant off-field turbulence.
While the scoreline suggested a comfortable afternoon, the statistics told a different story. Brentford controlled large swathes of the match, boasting superior possession and shot counts, but were undone by clinical finishing from the hosts and their own defensive errors.
The visitors started brightly, with Kevin Schade testing the Chelsea backline early on. However, Chelsea broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 26th minute. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez applied pressure on Brentford’s Michael Kayode, forcing a turnover on the edge of the box. The ball broke kindly for Joao Pedro, who rifled a powerful finish past goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Brentford rallied immediately. Mikkel Damsgaard and Schade both went close, while Mathias Jensen saw an effort strike the post. At the other end, Alejandro Garnacho—starting on the wing for Chelsea—missed a gilt-edged opportunity from six yards out.
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez proved vital in preserving the lead, producing a superb one-on-one save to deny Schade early in the second half.
With his squad battling a virus and Brentford pushing for an equaliser, Rosenior opted for pragmatism. He withdrew Garnacho for the defensive stability of Andrey Santos, a move that invited pressure but ultimately paid off.
Brentford’s top scorer, Igor Thiago, uncharacteristically headed wide with the goal at his mercy, summing up a frustrating afternoon for the Bees. Chelsea capitalised on the reprieve late in the game. An errant pass from Nathan Collins and hesitant goalkeeping from Kelleher allowed substitute Liam Delap to intercept the ball, drawing a foul from the keeper in the area.
Cole Palmer coolly converted the resulting penalty to seal the points.
The victory came against a backdrop of tangible frustration at Stamford Bridge. Prior to kickoff, a group of supporters protested outside the Britannia Gate against the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Inside the stadium, chants in support of former owner Roman Abramovich and recently departed manager Enzo Maresca were audible, highlighting the tense atmosphere Rosenior has walked into.
Post-match, Rosenior revealed the extent of the physical challenge his players faced, noting that a virus had swept through the camp, ruling out winger Estevao Willian.
“It’s running through the squad,” Rosenior said. “There were a couple of players playing today who were complaining about their chests. They put in a magnificent effort.
“We didn’t play the free-flowing football that I want us to in the end, but we got the job done, and that’s a really, really pleasing result for the players to give them and me more confidence moving forward.”
The win provides a crucial buffer for Rosenior, quieting the noise temporarily and keeping Chelsea within touching distance of the Champions League places.
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