Palmer, Pedro power Chelsea past stubborn Brentford

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Chelsea claimed a controlled 2–0 Premier League victory over Brentford at Stamford Bridge, on Saturday as they push for top four finishing

Goals from Joao Pedro and a cool Cole Palmer penalty earned Chelsea the win.

Chelsea dominated possession early, probing patiently as Brentford defended compactly and threatened sporadically on the break.

The breakthrough arrived on 26 minutes when Enzo Fernandez slipped a precise through ball into Joao Pedro, who lashed a ruthless finish into the roof of the net. A brief VAR check confirmed the goal, validating Chelsea’s growing authority.

Brentford responded with their best spell before the interval, coming close twice through Mathias Jensen, first rattling the post, then forcing Robert Sanchez into a sharp reflex save.

The visitors’ enterprise ensured the contest remained alive at the break, despite Chelsea’s territorial edge.

After the restart, Chelsea tightened control, circulating the ball with assurance and limiting Brentford’s space between the lines.

Injuries and substitutions disrupted rhythm on both sides, but Chelsea’s composure held.

The decisive moment came in the 75th minute when Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher brought down a Chelsea attacker in the area.

Cole Palmer stepped up and dispatched an emphatic penalty into the right corner, doubling the lead and settling the contest.

From there, the hosts managed the closing stages efficiently. Reece James and Marc Cucurella helped keep Brentford at arm’s length, while late efforts from Palmer and Pedro Neto hinted at a wider margin that never came.

Brentford enjoyed spells of possession late on but failed to register the incision needed to trouble Chelsea’s back line.