Chelsea 2-0 Brentford Player Ratings: Palmer's Penalty Seals Dominant Victory for Blues in EPL

Chelsea secured a fascinating 2–0 victory over Brentford in a commanding Premier League display at Stamford Bridge. While the scoreline suggests a routine win, the match showcased Chelsea’s discipline and control throughout the game.

From the opening minutes, the Blues set the tone, dictating play and building confidence as the game progressed. João Pedro broke the deadlock in the 26th minute with a clinical finish, a reward for sustained pressure and smart buildup play.

Brentford showed glimpses of threat, hitting the post and forcing some excellent saves from Robert Sanchez, but they lacked the decisive quality to truly challenge the hosts. The contest was effectively sealed when Cole Palmer converted a second-half penalty around 76 minutes, ensuring all three points remained at Stamford Bridge.

It was a controlled and efficient night for Chelsea, demonstrating both patience and composure against their opponents. Here are Sportsdunua’s Chelsea vs Brentford Player Ratings from the Premier League clash.

Key Takeaways

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Brentford

Let's delve into the Chelsea Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Robert Sánchez - 9.0: What a performance. From our perspective, he was the undisputed man of the match. He made six crucial saves, four from inside the box, to keep his clean sheet intact. The saves to deny Kevin Schade in both halves were world-class. His distribution was solid and his command of the area was flawless. An outstanding display that earned his team the win.

Defenders

Reece James - 7.0: A solid, captain's performance without being spectacular. He was defensively sound, winning his duels and making key interceptions. We noticed he didn't venture forward as much as usual, focusing on his defensive duties. Kept his side of the pitch locked down effectively. A quiet but very important outing.

Tosin Adarabioyo - 7.5: A colossal presence before his unfortunate injury. He made a staggering 13 clearances in just 58 minutes of play. Absolutely dominant in the air, winning all his aerial duels. It was a massive shame to see him go off. His presence was a huge reason for Chelsea's defensive stability in the first hour.

Trevoh Chalobah - 7.0: A strong and reliable partner to Adarabioyo. He was composed on the ball, with a 92% pass accuracy. Made eight clearances and was physically imposing. Handled the threat of Igor Thiago well for the most part. A very assured performance at the heart of the defence.

Marc Cucurella - 6.0: A mixed bag of a game for the Spaniard. He picked up a silly yellow card and seemed a bit rash at times. However, he did make six clearances and tried to support the attack. His decision-making could have been better on a few occasions. An energetic but somewhat erratic performance.

Midfielders

Moisés Caicedo - 7.0: The engine room of the team. He was tenacious in the tackle, winning five of his seven duels. Recovered the ball five times and kept possession ticking over nicely. An error almost led to a shot, but otherwise, he provided the defensive shield that allowed others to flourish. A typically industrious display.

Enzo Fernández - 8.0: The creative hub for Chelsea. His assist for the opening goal was sublime. He created three chances and was constantly looking for that killer pass. What stood out to us was his control of the tempo of the game. A masterful midfield performance that pulled all the strings.

Cole Palmer - 7.5: Ice-cool from the penalty spot to seal the victory. He was a constant threat with his dribbling and movement. Missed a chance in the first half, but his overall contribution was vital. His confidence is sky-high, and it shows in every touch. A goal and a win, you can't ask for much more.

Forwards

Pedro Neto - 6.5: A frustrating day for the winger. He showed flashes of his quality, creating a big chance for Alejandro Garnacho that was missed. His passing was tidy, but he lost the ball a few too many times. Looked lively but lacked the final product on this occasion. We expected a little more from him.

Alejandro Garnacho - 6.0: Full of running but it just wasn't his day. He missed a huge chance in the first half that he really should have buried. He seemed to snatch at his opportunities. Was substituted before the hour mark after a quiet outing. He'll have better days.

João Pedro - 7.5: Took his goal brilliantly, a fantastic finish that set Chelsea on their way. His movement in the box was sharp and intelligent. He worked hard for the team before being substituted. A goalscorer's performance made the crucial difference in the first half.

Substitutes

Wesley Fofana - 6.5: Came on for the injured Adarabioyo and slotted in seamlessly. He helped the team see out the clean sheet with a couple of important clearances. Looked composed and ready. A solid half-hour of work.

Andrey Santos - N/A: Was substituted on but had to be taken off just a minute later due to an injury. Not long enough to receive a rating.

Liam Delap - 7.0: A game-changing cameo. He came on and immediately won the penalty with his direct running. That single action sealed the three points for his team. An incredibly effective substitution.

Manager

L. Rosenior - 8.0: Got his tactics spot on. His team controlled the game from the start and were defensively solid. His substitutions were perfect, with Delap's introduction proving to be a masterstroke. A well-managed victory.

Brentford Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Here's a look at the Brentford Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Caoimhín Kelleher - 5.0: A day he will want to forget. The foul for the penalty was clumsy and unnecessary, completely killing any hope of a comeback. Conceding two goals and not being called upon to make a single save tells its own story. From our perspective, he was the worst performer on the pitch.

Defenders

Kristoffer Ajer - 6.5: He battled hard, winning most of his aerial duels and making six clearances. Tried to get forward and support the attack. However, he was part of a defence that was breached twice and looked vulnerable at times. A decent individual effort in a losing cause.

Nathan Collins - 6.5: The captain led by example with his commitment. He was solid in the air and made four important clearances. His distribution was impressive for a centre-back. Couldn't do much about the goals but he never stopped organizing his backline.

Rico Henry - 6.0: A quiet game for the left-back. He was defensively sound for the most part but offered very little going forward. Lost possession a few times and seemed pinned back by Chelsea's wide players. A steady but unspectacular performance.

Michael Kayode - 5.5: He struggled against the pace and trickery of Chelsea's attack. Was dribbled past and found it difficult to contain his man. Lost possession ten times, which is far too high for a defender. A tough afternoon for the young full-back.

Midfielders

Vitaly Janelt - 7.0: He was one of Brentford's better players. His passing was incredibly accurate and he created three chances for his teammates. Worked tirelessly in the midfield battle but his influence waned as the game wore on. The yellow card was a blemish on an otherwise good performance.

Yegor Yarmolyuk - 6.5: Tidy in possession with a 94% pass completion rate. He recovered the ball seven times and put in a real shift defensively. However, he offered little in an attacking sense. A solid, functional performance but lacked the creativity needed to unlock the defence.

Mathias Jensen - 7.5: Brentford's most dangerous player by a mile. He was so unlucky to see his shot cannon back off the post. He created two key passes and was a constant threat with his delivery from set-pieces. If anyone was going to make something happen for the visitors, it was him.

Forwards

Kevin Schade - 6.5: A paradox of a performance. He looked incredibly dangerous and got into great positions, forcing two excellent saves from the keeper. But he also missed a couple of golden opportunities that could have changed the game. His pace was a problem, but his finishing let him down.

Mikkel Damsgaard - 7.0: A very creative outing for the Dane. He created three chances, including one big chance, before being substituted. He was intelligent with his movement and passing. A bright spark for Brentford in the final third.

Igor Thiago - 6.0: A physically demanding but ultimately frustrating game. He battled hard but was isolated for long periods and won only one of his nine duels. He did create one chance but was largely ineffective against a strong Chelsea backline.

Substitutes

Dango Ouattara - 6.0: Came on for the final 13 minutes but had little time to make an impact. The game was already lost by the time he was introduced.

Manager

K. Andrews - 6.0: His team had a game plan to hit Chelsea on the counter, and they created some good chances. However, they were defensively suspect and ultimately outclassed. His side lacked the clinical edge needed to get a result at Stamford Bridge.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's man of the match goes to Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.

Worst Performer

Brentford's Caoimhín Kelleher was the worst performer.