Published: 18:52, 17 January 2026 | Updated: 18:52, 17 January 2026

It was far from pretty, but then Liam Rosenior will care more that Chelsea got the result they needed from his first Premier League match in charge, if not the performance they wanted.

Brentford had the chances to score. When Tosin Adarabioyo nearly bundled in the ball after Kevin Schade had sent Trevoh Chalobah to the shops with a chop inside, only for Robert Sanchez to save his team-mate the indignity of an own goal.

When Mathias Jensen crept behind Marc Cucurella and struck the post from eight yards. When Schade was one-on-one with Sanchez, only for the Chelsea goalkeeper to produce a world-class save with his trailing left foot. 

When Igor Thiago uncharacteristically sent his header off target. When Aaron Hickey whipped his wicked attempt narrowly wide.

Chelsea won, but did not carry the control or produce the free-flowing football that Rosenior eventually would like to see from his side. Given his hectic introduction – four games in four competitions in 12 days leaving limited time for training – he will...