Pinnock headed Brentford into the lead at the far post. (Picture: Getty)
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has pinned the blame for Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Brentford on Axel Disasi and Noni Madueke after their role in the first goal on Saturday.
Chelsea started the game on the front foot against their south-west London rivals but failed to find an opening in the first half.
After the break, Mauricio Pochettino’s side were punished when centre-back Ethan Pinnock found acres of space at the back post to thump home a header before Bryan Mbuemo wrapped up the victory in stoppage time.
The defeat ended Chelsea’s four-match unbeaten streak and continued their barren recent form against Thomas Frank’s side, with the Blues now without a win against Brentford since December 2021.
After impressive performances against Burnley and Arsenal in recent weeks, the pressure is now firmly back on Pochettino with his side languishing in 11th place, but former Blues centre-back Leboeuf believed the blame should be pinned largely on two players.
‘The first goal is initially a mistake from [Marc] Cucurella but it’s then an even bigger mistake from Disasi and Madueke at the far post,’ he said speaking on ESPN.
‘That was bad communication, bad covering, bad everything. It’s crazy.’
The defeat extends Chelsea’s poor recent record against Brentford. (Picture: Getty)
Offensively, Chelsea continued to falter with Saturday’s marking the fourth time already this season that they have failed to score a goal in a game.
However, for Leboeuf, Chelsea’s lack of potency going forward is no justification for their defensive errors, with Saturday another game where they should have come away with at least a point.
‘If you cannot score goals, at least in that game you have to draw and keep the clean sheet. It’s possible and not complicated; they proved it in the first half but let it go in the second,’ he added.
More: Trending
‘They played better, and were maybe a bit unlucky, but there are some things that I see that make me think they do everything to not win and sometimes everything to lose the game and that is very annoying.’
Pochettino’s side, however, have a chance to get back to winnings way immediately when they they host Championship side Blackburn in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
MORE : ‘They look lost’ – Arsene Wenger gives damning verdict of Chelsea following defeat to Brentford
‘That was bad communication, bad covering, bad everything. It’s crazy.’
