Chelsea were the better side in the opening 45 minutes, with Pedro Neto drawing an excellent save from Caoimhin Kelleher and Morgan Rogers having a goalbound shot blocked.

However, it was Brentford who came out the blocks faster following the interval and they scored what felt like it would be a pivotal opener through Jaidon Anthony’s close-range header on the hour.

As we pressed for an equaliser, we were caught on the break late on. Igor Thiago doubled the Bees lead and Fabio Carvalho made it 3-0 with virtually the last kick, condemning us to a first defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Debutant among five changes

Xabi Alonso made five alterations to his side, handing Jordan Henderson a Chelsea debut and three other players their first start in the Premier League.

Pep Chavarria, Valentin Barco, and Danny Welbeck were all included in the XI, with Maxence Lacroix the other fresh face in the side.

Two of the changes were enforced, with Reece James and Joao Pedro unavailable, while Malo Gusto, Jorrel Hato and Romeo Lavia dropped to the bench. They were joined there by 16-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, who was named in a matchday squad for the first time and would come on to make his Blues debut.

A crackling Friday night atmosphere greeted the teams and after a brief spell of Brentford pressure, we began to assert our dominance on the contest.

Bright beginning

Cole Palmer danced his way into the box but was eventually crowded out before he could shoot. Chavarria was a regular outlet down our left and from one cross in the tenth minute, Welbeck teed up Pedro Neto. His first-time shot was well saved by Kelleher.

By the midway point of the half, we had limited the home side’s threat to a handful of set-pieces and long throws, passing the test on every occasion.

The Blues were mixing up our attacks, using width on occasion but also allowing Rogers to drift infield and link up with Palmer. It was from a central position that our no.17’s goalbound shot – from Chavarria’s intelligent pass – hit Jannik Schuster and fizzed behind.

It had not been an opening 45 minutes full of opportunities, but this unfamiliar Chelsea side could certainly be satisfied with their efforts as the teams headed down the tunnel with it all still to play for.

The second half started in similar fashion: keenly contested, but with space in the final third at a premium.

Brentford come out strongly

Brentford improved, too, and five minutes in, Emi Martinez got the feintest of touches on an Anthony header that hit the top of the crossbar, but the offside flag was up anyway.

Not long after, our keeper launched a counter-attack with a diagonal pass that Chavarria latched on to. He opted to shoot and though Kelleher was worried, the ball flew wide.

Brentford went straight up the other end and scored. Damsgaard’s corner from the left was met by Schuster, who headed back across goal for an unmarked Anthony to nod into the net from a couple of yards out.

We very nearly levelled matters up from a corner of our own. Henderson’s vicious delivery was missed by Kelleher but the ricochet didn’t quite land in our favour, with the Bees smuggling the ball clear.

Our hosts twice looked threatening on the break but couldn’t make the most of their men over, and then we really started to ramp up the pressure, pinning Brentford back and winning corner after corner.

From one, Barco had a good appeal for a penalty waved away, with his attempt one of several in quick succession that were met by a red-and-white shirt flinging themselves in the line of fire. We had five shots blocked between the 66th and the 80th minute.

Bees make sure

But it was Brentford who got the game’s second goal. Schade was set free and though Martinez did excellently to save his shot, the rebound fell to Thiago who couldn’t miss.

Alonso brought Nicoll-Jazuli on for his senior debut late on, and there was still time for Brentford to extend their lead, Carvalho firing home at the far post after Schade’s cross had been deflected kindly into his path.

What it means...

The Blues remain on seven points with five league games played.

What’s next...

A prolonged international break that lasts until the second week of October. We return to action on Saturday 10 October when Bournemouth come to the Bridge.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Fofana (Acheampong 71), Lacroix, Colwill (c), Chavarria; Henderson, Barco (Nicoll-Jazuli 87); Neto (Estevao 87), Palmer, Rogers; Welbeck (Quenda 71)
Unused subs: Penders, Gusto, Hato, Lavia, Gittens

Brentford (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode (Hickey 69), Ajer, Schuster, Lewis-Potter (Diouf 81); Yarmoliuk (Sangare 69), Janelt (c), Damsgaard (Carvalho 87); Anthony (Ouattara 81), Thiago, Schade
Unused subs: Balcombe, Henry, Wilson, Fredrick
Scorers: Anthony 61, Thiago 83, Carvalho 90+4
Booked: Thiago 84, Sangare 85

Referee Andrew Madley
Crowd 17,193