Chelsea ride luck to beat Brentford in coach Rosenior's league debut

LONDON, Jan 17 : Chelsea beat London neighbours Brentford 2-0 on Saturday in the first Premier League match under coach Liam Rosenior thanks to a Joao Pedro strike and a Cole Palmer penalty, but they were let off the hook as the visitors wasted a string of chances.

After a run of nine league games with only one win – most of which was under former coach Enzo Maresca who left the club on January 1 – Chelsea managed only two attempts on target all game with Brentford on top for much of each half.

It was Chelsea who found the net, however, when Pedro turned and fired a bullet shot into the top corner of Caoimhin Kelleher's net in the 26th minute. 

The Brazilian was initially ruled offside but the goal was given after a VAR check.

Palmer - returning after a brief injury absence - doubled Chelsea's lead from the penalty spot in the 76th minute after Kelleher failed to control the ball and, in his desperation to win it back, tripped substitute Liam Delap.

The win pushed Chelsea up to sixth in the table, leapfrogging Brentford who had been unbeaten in six league games.

For the visitors, Kevin Schade blew a great chance to open the scoring in the first half but attempted a pass instead and Mathias Jensen hit a post when in space at the far post.

Five minutes into the second half, Schade had an opportunity to make amends for his profligacy when he was put through on goal but his shot was diverted wide by the outstretched foot of the advancing Robert Sanchez.

CHELSEA PLAYERS SHOWED FIGHT, SAYS ROSENIOR

Rosenior said his players had shown fight and determination, rather than the flair he promised fans on his arrival at Chelsea from sister club Racing Strasbourg.

"It was going to be a real test for us and sometimes you have to win the game in