Brentford secured a third consecutive away win over Chelsea on Saturday following goals from Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were the better side in the first half, but failed to make their dominance count on the scoreboard. They were made to pay for that just before the hour mark when Pinnock broke the deadlock.
Chelsea, who have won just twice at home in 2023, conceded in injury time as they chased an equaliser, with Mbeumo passing into an empty net vacated by Robert Sanchez.
“I think first half we struggled to get out of it, we knew we would be under the cosh for long periods so we worked at it all week. The boys stuck to their task and we really felt we could get at them with set pieces and on the counter,” Pinnock told TNT Sports after the final whistle.
The 30-year-old revealed what words of wisdom manager Thomas Frank offered them in his halftime team talk. “He said to be a bit braver. Although we were staying in the game he thought we could offer more going forwards and be a bit tidier on the ball. We were still in the game and it was all to play for.”
Pinnock scored his first goal of the campaign when he headed home at the back post following a clever throw-in. “I was buzzing,” he said.
“The long throws we work on a lot. My job is to hang around the back post and stay onside and attack anything that gets over the last man. I got there.
“As soon as he crossed it I could see the height. It was just about timing and making sure I got good contact. I’m delighted.”
The defender admitted that Brentford’s plan was to disrupt Chelsea as they continued their impressive record at the Bridge. “We know they’re a top quality side, we’ve seen their performances raise in the last few weeks,” he said.
“There was a big defensive focus on stifling them, staying in the game, just trying to frustrate them. We knew the longer the game went on the more we could grow into it.”
