Chelsea returned to winning ways in the Premier League after seeing off Brentford 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in Round 22, giving new head coach Liam Rosenior his first league victory in charge.
The Blues made a bright start but were repeatedly tested by a lively Brentford side that carved out several clear chances in the opening half. The visitors came agonisingly close through Mathias Jensen, who struck the post from close range, while Kevin Schade also wasted a one-on-one opportunity that should have troubled Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea’s breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute through Joao Pedro. Initially flagged for offside after Enzo Fernandez blocked a clearance, the goal was overturned following a VAR review, allowing the Brazilian’s crisp finish to stand and lift the mood inside the stadium.
Despite trailing at the break, Brentford continued to apply pressure after half-time and enjoyed long spells of possession. The Bees pushed Chelsea deep, winning a series of corners and forcing the hosts to defend in numbers, but their dominance failed to translate into goals.
Chelsea absorbed the pressure and struck decisively late in the game. Substitute Liam Delap made an instant impact by drawing a clumsy challenge inside the box, leaving the referee with no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Cole Palmer stepped up in the 76th minute and calmly converted the penalty to seal the result.
The goal knocked the wind out of Brentford, who continued to threaten in the closing stages but could not find a way past a resilient Chelsea back line. A late curling effort from Aaron Hickey drifted narrowly wide, summing up a frustrating evening for the visitors.
The win lifts Chelsea above Brentford in the standings and ends a six-game wait for a league victory, while the Bees slip to seventh as their poor away form continues to haunt them.
Chelsea now turn their focus to a crucial Champions League clash against Pafos, while Brentford will look to bounce back when they host Nottingham Forest in their next outing.
