Chelsea handed new head coach Liam Rosenior his first Premier League victory after grinding out a hard-fought win over Brentford at Stamford Bridge.
First-half heroics from Joao Pedro and a second-half penalty converted by Cole Palmer secured the Blues’ second triumph in three matches under their new manager.
Despite the result, Chelsea were far from dominant. Brentford enjoyed greater control of the game, registering more possession, shots, and attempts on target, but failed to make their superiority count.
The visitors began the contest on the front foot, with Kevin Schade testing Chelsea’s defence early on.
He twice came close to opening the scoring and was also guilty of passing up a shooting opportunity when he opted to lay the ball off to Mikkel Damsgaard instead.
Chelsea gradually grew into the game, with Palmer curling an effort narrowly over the bar and Joao Pedro seeing a penalty appeal dismissed.
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The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 26th minute. Enzo Fernandez capitalised on a defensive error by Michael Kayode near the Brentford box, allowing Joao Pedro to seize possession and fire a powerful strike past goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
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Brentford responded strongly and went close on several occasions. Damsgaard and Schade threatened, while Mathias Jensen struck the post as the Bees pushed for an equaliser.
At the other end, Alejandro Garnacho squandered a golden opportunity, missing an open goal from close range.
Early in the second half, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez produced an outstanding save to deny Schade in a one-on-one situation, keeping the hosts in front.
With Brentford piling on pressure, Rosenior opted for a more cautious approach, replacing Garnacho with Andrey Santos in a bid to strengthen his midfield.
The tactical change failed to slow Brentford’s momentum, and striker Igor Thiago missed a clear chance when he headed wide from a promising position.
However, Chelsea ultimately made their opponents pay for a costly defensive lapse. A misplaced pass from Nathan Collins and hesitation from Kelleher allowed substitute Liam Delap to pounce on the loose ball, forcing the goalkeeper into a rash challenge inside the box.
Referee pointed to the spot, and Palmer calmly dispatched the resulting penalty, sending Kelleher the wrong way to double Chelsea’s lead.
The victory lifted Chelsea above Brentford into sixth place in the Premier League table, providing a welcome boost for Rosenior as he continues to settle into his new role.
