{"id":25689,"date":"2022-04-02T12:58:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-02T16:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25689"},"modified":"2022-04-03T11:00:32","modified_gmt":"2022-04-03T15:00:32","slug":"chelsea-stumble-against-brentford-at-stamford-bridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25689","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea Stumble Against Brentford At Stamford Bridge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Christian Eriksen also netted in a win that puts Thomas Frank\u2019s Bees on the verge of cementing their top-flight status (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Vitaly Janelt\u2019s quickfire double put Brentford on the brink of Premier League safety after their 4-1 rout of a Chelsea side beset by unrelenting takeover talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian Eriksen also netted in a win that puts Thomas Frank\u2019s Brentford on the verge of cementing their top-flight status following a hugely impressive debut campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toni Rudiger hammered home a long-range strike to stun Stamford Bridge and hand Chelsea a 1-0 lead just after half-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Brentford punished Chelsea\u2019s out-of-character defensive disarray three times in six minutes to seal a memorable win for the Bees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And by the time Yoane Wissa drilled home a fourth at the death, the travelling Brentford fans were in dreamland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea\u2019s fine run of six wins on the spin in all competitions came to a crashing halt in West London, with the Blues now perhaps looking over their shoulders in the league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth-placed Arsenal could cut their deficit on third-placed Chelsea to two points with a win at Crystal Palace on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea had shut out all the takeover noise to fine effect with those six wins in a row, but now boss Thomas Tuchel will need all his powers of man-management to set the Blues back on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea\u2019s fans had started the day promising a protest against prospective new owners the Ricketts family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But perhaps only 100 supporters took to the streets around Stamford Bridge before kick-off, and plans to unveil a banner in the ground never materialized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roman Abramovich will sell the club after 19 years as owner, with four consortiums locked in a bidding battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boss Tuchel had kept his players\u2019 minds off those boardroom wrangles so impressively in a flawless March schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But after the international break a refreshed Brentford executed a classic smash-and-grab victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tepid protest before the match gave way to a lukewarm first half, where Brentford spurned several half-chances and Chelsea failed to get going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea returned after the break reinvigorated and ready to crank up the level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Rudiger\u2019s thunderbolt provided a magical moment for the Stamford Bridge faithful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Germany defender finally struck gold \u2013 and the net \u2013 on his latest long-range attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea\u2019s players were as adoring as the supporters for their cult hero\u2019s howitzer goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such lingering celebration could perhaps account for the speed of Brentford\u2019s equalizer \u2013 but assuredly not the two further rapid Bees goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janelt swept home a smart finish after Chelsea ceded possession too cheaply in the middle of the field, and less than two minutes after Rudiger\u2019s strike the match was back on level terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuchel\u2019s Chelsea would so often steady the nerves and wrestle control after such a setback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frank\u2019s Brentford had other ideas, with Mbeumo racing down the left and playing in Eriksen for a tap-in to put the Bees 2-1 to the good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time Janelt dinked in Brentford\u2019s third, from Ivan Toney\u2019s ball, just 12 minutes had elapsed from Rudiger breaking the match\u2019s deadlock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four goals in 12 minutes that must surely set Brentford en route to Premier League safety, but also a sequence of strikes to add another layer of intrigue to the race for a top-four finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wissa added a fourth at the death to gloss Brentford\u2019s fully-deserved victory, but also potentially dragged Chelsea back into an unwanted top-four scrap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beat Crystal Palace on Monday and fourth-placed Arsenal will be fired up for a tilt at Chelsea\u2019s grip on third place.<\/p>\n

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