Chelsea began Liam Rosenior’s Premier League reign with a clinical 2-0 win over Brentford, yet the match showed how much work still lies ahead. The Blues scored from both efforts on target, while Brentford missed
several clear chances, ending a strong winning streak in London derbies and leaving Keith Andrews frustrated by the outcome but satisfied with the display.
Rosenior’s side moved ahead in the first half when a deflected ball fell kindly for Joao Pedro, who drove a powerful finish into the roof of the net. Brentford responded with threat of their own, but Mathias Jensen and Kevin Schade both wasted excellent openings, while Alejandro Garnacho also missed from close range for Chelsea before the interval.
The victory placed Rosenior in select company at Stamford Bridge. The head coach became just the second Chelsea manager, after Graham Potter, to win a first Premier League match with the club since Maurizio Sarri achieved the same in 2018. The result also halted Brentford’s six-match winning run in all competitions, underlining the significance of the afternoon for both teams.
Rosenior stressed satisfaction with the win, yet highlighted how far Chelsea must still progress. "I'm happy. A lot more work to do but to win against a very good side, I was delighted with the attitude," Rosenior told BBC Match of the Day. "I want to find a way that we're very good with the ball. We got our clean sheet and defended against a consistently good team. That's what I love and what I demand. "
Despite the scoreline, Chelsea lacked attacking fluency for long spells at Stamford Bridge. The Blues registered only six shots across the match and converted both attempts on target. That total is their lowest in a home Premier League victory since October 2014, when they beat Arsenal while mustering just five efforts on goal.
Rosenior praised the players’ mentality and application during such a tight encounter. "I know I've got a talented group, I've been telling them all week. You have to find a way to win and the lads certainly did that this afternoon. Great reaction to losing the ball. We don't have the training time to work on patterns all the time. My job is to stay calm and make the right substitutions. My job is to help my players win games. I love being here and I want to be successful with this group. It's my first Premier League group. "
The decisive second goal came late in the match, when Cole Palmer converted a composed penalty to secure the points. That strike punished Brentford’s wastefulness and confirmed another 2-0 defeat for Andrews’ team in a London derby away from home, continuing a concerning pattern in such fixtures.
| Team | Goals | Total Shots | Shots on Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Brentford | 0 | Not specified | Not specified |
Rosenior underlined the importance of grinding out results when performances are imperfect. "If you want to be a winning team then you have to find a way to win when you're not at your best," Rosenior added. "I said a few things about the club's demands. I want us to play free-flowing football and for the fans to enjoy what we do. I'm here to help the lads improve and win games of football at the same time. "
First #PL victory for Rosenior. #CFC | #CHEBRE pic.twitter.com/v9x07h6UV9Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 17, 2026
Chelsea vs Brentford Premier League reaction and Brentford’s derby record
Brentford’s defeat continued a difficult recent run in London away derbies. The Bees have now been beaten in five of their last six away league matches against city rivals, winning one. Each of their most recent four such games has finished in the same 2-0 scoreline, underlining a repeating trend that again resurfaced at Stamford Bridge.
Andrews focused on missed opportunities rather than systemic issues after the match. "We just weren't clinical enough with the chances we had," Andrews told BBC Match of the Day. "We didn't give up anything at the other end. I'm proud of the performance levels. The growth of the team is there for everyone to see. Mistakes can happen in the game. I want us to play with courage and we did that today. I thought we were excellent. Some of our play was high-level and against elite-level opposition. "
Chelsea leave the contest with a clean sheet, three points and a positive start under Rosenior, but also clear evidence of areas to refine in possession. Brentford depart ruing missed chances, yet Andrews sees continued progress, even as their away form in London derbies, including this latest 2-0 defeat, remains a concern.
