09/18/26 05:27:00
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09/18 17:26 CDT Brentford climbs to third in Premier League after sweeping
Chelsea aside 3-0
Brentford climbs to third in Premier League after sweeping Chelsea aside 3-0
LONDON (AP) --- Brentford climbed to third in the Premier League after a
crushing 3-0 win over west London rival Chelsea on Friday.
It was a puzzling display by Xabi Alonso's Chelsea side, which has now gone
three league games without a win.
Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho all scored in the second half
for Brentford.
"Disappointed with the second half, disappointed with the result," Chelsea
manager Alonso said. "This is not how to compete in the Premier League. We were
punished.
"At the moment we are not being consistent enough to compete during the whole
game, 45 minutes is not enough, you need to compete for the whole game. It's
about everything, it's about tactical things that we need to keep improving and
do much better."
This was a Chelsea lineup containing all the elements of its offseason transfer
rethink, with a solid, experienced spine which saw Jordan Henderson and Danny
Welbeck make their first league starts for the club.
Something appeared to have clicked. The visitors did not look half as chaotic
defensively in the first half as they have done at times this season, standing
up physically to Brentford, winning duels and not allowing Keith Andrews' side
to dominate second balls.
But old habits crept back in after the break. The marking from Mikkel
Damsgaard's 61st-minute corner was poor, Jannik Schuster headed on and Anthony
finished it off.
Thiago was then left free to score after Kevin Schade's shot was saved, and a
low cross was whacked in during stoppage time by Carvalho to send Brentford
fans into dreamland.
"It was a really good evening," said Brentford manager Andrews. "It's important
that you enjoy evenings like this because you work so hard and there are so
many tough days in this game.
"When you play against a west London rival, you build up to a game and you go
on a bit of a journey with the team. There are always bumps along the way, but
we were in a really good place and it's nice to see it come into fruition
tonight."
Brentford has nine points from five games and is three points behind co-leaders
Arsenal and Manchester City, who play on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Chelsea is down to seventh with seven points from five games.
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