Chelsea player ratings: Danny Welbeck shows his age and struggles in Joao Pedro’s absence but Wesley Fofana impresses

CHELSEA sorely missed talisman Joao Pedro as they were shut out of Brentford’s goal and sent back to Stamford Bridge with their tails between their legs. Xabi Alonso‘s side visited their West London neighbours with a new striker leading the line and another midfield partnership in Valentin Barco and former Bees man Jordan Henderson. Jaidon Anthony and Igor Thiago were on the scoresheet for Brentford as they downed Chelsea Credit: PA It was a tough day at the office for a rotated Xabi Alonso team Credit: Reuters Unfortunately, those changes paved the way for the Blues’ second league defeat of the season as goals from Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho sealed the three points for the hosts. Here’s how SunSport’s Tony Robertson rated the Blues at the Gtech Community Stadium. Sign up for the Chelsea newsletter Thank you! Emiliano Martinez – 6 Barely tested in the first half but handled the ball well when asked to save. Looked helpless when Anthony hit the bar in the second half. Was in no man’s land for Brentford‘s opener. Huge save to deny Kevin Schade late on but rebound fell kindly to Thiago who sealed the win and could nothing about Carvalho’s third. Wesley Fofana – 7 Did well in his battle with Schade. Launched what would have been a good attack in the second half after charging forward and winning the ball which fell to Cole Palmer who played in Welbeck, only for it to be offside. Looked well suited to the right of the back three. Subbed off in the 71st minute. Maxence Lacroix – 5 Did well in his individual duels with Thiago. Possession out from defence was channelled through him and he didn’t need to reinvent the wheel with that due to the wing-backs holding their width. Played Schade onside before Thiago wrapped up the game with his 83rd-minute strike. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Levi Colwill – 5 Looked less assured coming up against Thiago compared to Lacroix and didn’t have his best day distributing the ball. Made some clean tackles but still not at his best since his return from injury. Pedro Neto – 5 Had the chance to open the scoring after cutting into the penalty area, but his shot was met by a strong save from Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Continued to be a wide outlet on the right but too often hesitant in whipping the ball into the box. The match stats between Brentford and Chelsea Chelsea’s average position against Brentford Jordan Henderson – 4 In for his first league start for Chelsea against his former club. Booed on every touch but played some nice one-touch passes to sustain attacking situations. Other times his passes were too often sideways or backwards and set pieces were flat or too long. Started hitting Hail Mary passes and crosses after Chelsea went behind. Valentin Barco – 4 Like his midfield partner, booed on every touch, albeit for very different reasons. Certainly wasn’t scared to dive into challenges but doesn’t exactly have the build to throw his weight around and he was effectively launched by Schade as they grappled at a corner in the first half. Outmuscled at the far post for the header back across before Anthony’s opener. Had a penalty appeal waved away when he was caught by Mamadou Sangare. Subbed off for Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli in the 87th minute. Valentin Barco struggled with the physical battle Brentford posed Credit: Getty Brentford would have no regrets in letting Henderson go in the summer based on tonight’s evidence Credit: Reuters Jordan Henderson hit 10 crosses to no one in the match Pep Chavarria severely lacked final third quality Credit: AFP Pep Chavarria – 4 Saw a lot of the ball down the left wing early on but seemed hesitant to take on his full-back and be direct. The first time he did in the 41st minute he found Rogers in the penalty area for a shot that was blocked away for a corner. Had a glorious chance to tee up one of three supporting team-mates on the hour but inexplicably decided to shoot into row Z instead of cross. Caught out at the far post for Carvalho’s tap-in at the death. Cole Palmer – 5 The Blues’ attacking play went through Palmer for better and for worse. Played some nice passes to Neto but he was ultimately met with a tough Bees defence. Wasn’t effective high up the pitch, and played his best stuff in the middle of the park rather than on the penalty area. Cole Palmer was blunt against the Bees as he did his best work in midfield rather than up front Credit: Getty Morgan Rogers also struggled but was positive in continuing to try things Credit: Chelsea FC via Getty Images Morgan Rogers – 5 Tame free-kick went straight at the goalkeeper after ghosting in the first half an hour. Was brave in being the most willing to take shots in the first half – the only Chelsea player who had more than one before the break. Continued to try and carve out openings even though it just wasn’t his night. Moved central when Welbeck came off. Danny Welbeck – 3 Starting in the league for the first time in place of the injured Pedro, whose mobility and physicality was missed, most acutely by Palmer and Rogers. Showed his age in the second half when he was played in by Palmer but was outpaced by the Brentford defence and was offside anyway. Failed to mark Anthony for the hosts’ opener. Subbed off in 71st minute. Danny Welbeck showed his age up front for the Blues Credit: Alamy Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli became Chelsea’s youngest ever Premier League star against Brentford Credit: Chelsea FC via Getty Images Subs Geovany Quenda (On for Welbeck, 71 mins) – 6 Was positive when he came on and tried things but ultimately couldn’t force a breakthrough. Josh Acheampong (On for Fofana, 71 mins) – 5 Caught out of position when Schade raced through for Thiago’s clincher. Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli (On for Barco, 87 mins) – N/A Nice to come on and make history as Chelsea’s youngest-ever Premier League star. Estevao (On for Neto, 87 mins) – N/A No time to make an impact but was caught out by moving too high for Brentford’s third. Comment now