MY ACCOUNT
Vitaly Janelt scored a classy double and Christian Eriksen opened his Brentford account in a sensational 4-1 derby win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Bees were the better side in the first half, but it was the Blues who took the lead just after the break through an Antonio Rudiger thunderbolt from long range.
Magnificent Brentford responded to that blow by scoring three times in the space of 10 minutes, Janelt on target with two brilliant strikes either side of Eriksen’s clinical finish at the end of a devastating counter-attack.
Yoane Wissa added a late fourth goal as the Bees ran riot in a first victory over Chelsea since 1939, ending their London rivals’ six-match winning run to move 11 points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.
Edouard Mendy was fortunate to get away with a terrible pass just five minutes in, with Ivan Toney letting the stranded Blues goalkeeper off the hook when his lob floated over the crossbar.
Toney had a shot palmed wide by Mendy and the wasteful striker headed off target from close range in an impressive start from Brentford.
Chelsea looked short of ideas, but Hakim Ziyech finally called David Raya into action with a rasping left-foot drive after he was picked out by Mason Mount in the penalty area.
Rudiger produced a moment of quality that the Blues had been so badly lacking to open the scoring three minutes into the second half, letting fly with venomous right-foot strike from almost 40 yards out that flashed past Raya.
Chelsea’s joy was short-lived, though, as Janelt rounded off a well-worked move by drilling Brentford level with his left foot two minutes later.
The Bees ripped the Blues apart with a brilliant counter-attack to take the lead four minutes after that equaliser, Eriksen applying the finish with his left foot after Bryan Mbeumo spotted his surging run into the box.
Thomas Frank’s side continued to knock the ball around with a swagger and they were rewarded with a brilliant third goal on the hour-mark, Toney threading a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Janelt, who coolly dinked the ball over Mendy and into the back of the net with his left foot.
Wissa added insult to injury just after coming on, rifling home with his right foot after a mix-up between Rudiger and Thiago Silva with Chelsea all at sea.
What does it mean? Venomous Bees give European champions the Blues
Brentford produced one of the performances of the Premier League season to surely ensure they will remain in the top flight.
The Bees had not beaten Chelsea in eight attempts since way back in 1939 and they could not have dreamed of putting their West London rivals to the sword in their own backyard in this manner.
Chelsea had won every match since Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale, but they were alarmingly poor ahead of a Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid next week.
Janelt a joy to watch
German midfielder Janelt had only scored three goals this season, but showed great composure to strike twice.
The 23-year-old’s second goal was a sweet finish and he was a constant menace in an outstanding display from a Brentford side that looked more like a top-half team than a side looking over their shoulders at the bottom three.
No stopping incredible Eriksen
Eriksen has hit the ground running for Brentford and came into this game on a high from a dream return to international duty with Denmark, scoring against the Netherlands and Serbia.
The playmaking midfielder finished clinically once again and showed his class throughout in the middle of the park.
Key Opta facts
– This was the joint-biggest Premier League away victory for a newly promoted team against a side starting the day in the top three of the table (Leeds beat 3-0 Aston Villa in October 2020).
– Brentford scored four or more goals in a top-flight London derby for the first time since a 5-2 victory against Charlton in October 1937.
– Chelsea lost by three or more goals in a Premier League London derby at Stamford Bridge for just the second time, the other being a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in April 1997.
– Eriksen scored his first Premier League goal since December 2019, when he was on target for Tottenham against Norwich. The playmaker has been directly involved in eight goals (scoring three and providing five assists) against Chelsea in the top flight, with all three goals arriving at Stamford Bridge.
What’s next?
Holders Chelsea must regroup before facing LaLiga leaders Madrid at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, while Brentford have another derby at home to West Ham next Sunday.
