Bully boys: Brentford expose Chelsea's defensive woes

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso expressed disappointment over his team's defensive performance after a 3-0 loss to Brentford, with defender Levi Colwill adding that his side were bullied at set pieces. Brentford scored three goals in the second half, with Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago, and Fabio Carvalho finding the back of the net. This marked the third consecutive Premier League defeat for Chelsea, who had previously lost to Arsenal and drawn with Hull City.

Chelsea has conceded 12 goals in the league so far, with Alonso being only the sixth manager to concede two or more goals in each of his first five matches. Alonso acknowledged that Chelsea's consistency and competitive mentality need improvement, particularly during the second half of games. Colwill blamed Chelsea's defensive struggles on being bullied in set pieces, stating that the team overexposed themselves after trailing 1-0 and fell victim to counter-attacks.

Both Alonso and Colwill emphasized the need for better performance in set pieces and overall defensive unity. Brentford, on the other hand, remains unbeaten in the league, having won twice and drawn three times, and currently sit third with nine points, only behind Chelsea who remain seventh with seven points.