Xabi Alonso's Chelsea suffered a disastrous 3-0 away defeat to Brentford on Friday evening. After a tight first half, the Blues' defensive frailties were exposed once again. The hosts capitalised on poor marking to open the scoring from a corner, before two late goals sealed a historic victory that leaves the visitors searching for urgent solutions.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has explained the reasons behind captain Reece James and forward Joao Pedro missing Friday's Premier League trip to Brentford. James suffered a fresh hamstring setback after last weekend's draw, while Pedro is sidelined following a blistering start to the campaign. The Blues were forced to adapt their squad to cover these significant absences for the clash.
Spartak Kostroma
