Stunning night for Brentford as they end 88-year wait for home win over shell-shocked Chelsea
Premier League
Brentford (0) 3 Anthony 61, Thiago 83, Carvalho 90
Chelsea (0) 0
It was the one thing that has been missing on the Brentford CV.
Now in their sixth season in the top flight - how time flies - they had beaten everyone at the Gtech at some point, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and United. The one exception: Chelsea.
Now they have the set. And an unbeaten start to the season after five games into the bargain. This is a team with identity, purpose and scalps.
They have had the delicious pleasure of winning at Stamford Bridge on three occasions in the recent Premier League years but went into this one trying to improve on a sequence of four successive home draws against the Blues following defeat to them in their first season up among the big boys in the 2021/22 campaign.
You had to go back nearly 88 years to the last time they beat their neighbours at home - that pre-war 1-0 win in October 1938 one of only three victories ever on their own patch against them before tonight. There haven't been that many meetings between the pair - this being only the 26th - but still.
Here, thanks to Jaidon Anthony's first goal for the club just past the hour and two more strikes late on, the Blues were left stunned and embarrassed. The away end emptying before the end.
Bees fans could take their pick of players to boo for this clash, with Gtech defector Jordan Henderson making his first appearance for the Blues and with Argentinian antagonists Emi Martinez and Valentin Barco in the away ranks.
One player who does not ignite the same degree of ire is Pedro Neto, who went close early on with a curling effort that Caoimhin Kelleher saved well. Another is Danny Welbeck, who came in for the injured Joao Pedro.
The Bees usually impose themselves on visiting sides but tonight had to absorb a very determined Chelsea press and the result was a very high-intensity stalemate. The half-time xG of 0.3 v 0.3 summed it up. Goals were looking out of the question.
But then came a set piece and the Bees were suddenly in front. Mikkel Damsgaard's corner to the back stick was headed back across goal by Austrian newcomer Jannik Schuster and an unmarked Anthony had the simple task of nodding the ball over the line.
Austin McPhee, the set piece coach for Chelsea, is presumably hotter on the offensive side of it rather than the defensive side.
The Bees now had something to work with and they made the most of it. A beautifully threaded pass from man of the match Damsgaard carved Chelsea open and although Kevin Schade had his shot palmed away by Martinez, Igor Thiago followed up to thump home.
"West London is ours," crowed ecstatic Bees fans, with some expletives deleted here. "Can we play you every week?" would follow.
The night could hardly have gone better. Except it did. A low cross from Schade in the final minute eluded everyone, allowing sub Fabio Carvalho to fire in at the back post.
The former Fulham man came on to grab a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw between the sides last season. This time, it was pure icing on the cake
It was a dream of a night for the Bees that will live in the memory - alongside those famous wins against Arsenal, Liverpool and United (the 4-0 in particular). Perhaps Jordan Henderson really should have stayed at a big club, as those cheeky Brentford fans gleefully chanted.
For Xabi Alonso, it was yet another defensive calamity and he has much to ponder. Martinez, his marquee keeper, has conceded seven goals in just three games. Much food for thought for the men at the Bridge.
Bees: (4-2-3-1) Kelleher - Kayode (Hickey 69), Schuster, Ajer, Lewis-Potter (Diouf 81) - Yarmoliuk (sangare 69), Janelt - Anthony (Ouatarra 81), Damsgaard (Carvalho 87), Schade - Igor Thiago
Blues: (3-4-2-1) Martinez - Fofana (Acheampong 71), Lacroix, Colwill - Pedro Neto (Estevao 87), Henderson, Barco Nicoli-Jazuli 87). Chavarria - Palmer, Rogers - Welbeck (Quenda 71)
Attendance: 17,193
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