A penalty from Enzo le Fee secured Sunderland a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light, extending Xabi Alonso’s run of disappointing results since taking over at Stamford Bridge. Brian Brobbey won the spot-kick after being fouled by Levi Colwill in the 36th minute, a decision that followed a denied penalty appeal for Chelsea moments earlier involving Cole Palmer.
Chelsea’s struggles with consistency and identity continued as Alonso shuffled his lineup once again, fielding a three-man midfield for the first time this season but lacking a recognised striker for a second consecutive game. Pedro Neto led the attack but failed to make a significant impact, while the defence looked vulnerable. Colwill was substituted at half-time after his error led to the penalty, with Moises Caicedo stepping in despite limited training due to fitness concerns.
Alonso remained frustrated on the touchline but declined to criticise the referees after the match. He said, “No, he’s stoppable. He’s stoppable, but we have to do it better than we did today.” He added that conceding a penalty was avoidable and something the team had prepared for during the week. The Chelsea manager was instead critical of his players’ execution of the game plan, indicating that defensive lapses cost them dearly.
Chelsea dominated possession with nearly 69% but struggled to create clear chances. £117m signing Morgan Rogers missed a notable headed opportunity, and Palmer, recently left out of the England squad, had a quiet game. The Blues have been unpredictable this season, a trait Alonso said he wanted before the campaign began, but it has not translated into consistent performances or results.
Sunderland, by contrast, relied on Brobbey’s physical presence, which Chelsea failed to counter effectively. The win marked Sunderland’s first league victory since August. Their target man not only earned the penalty but also troubled Chelsea’s defence throughout the match.
Chelsea’s injury list has left Alonso with limited options. Captain Reece James was sidelined after the international break, Joao Pedro is out with a thigh injury, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez remains unavailable after breaking his jaw. Defender Maxence Lacroix is expected to miss several months with a hamstring injury, and Jorrel Hato has also had recent setbacks. These absences have forced Alonso to experiment with his side, contributing to the team’s unsettled form.
The Blues have conceded 50 shots on target, the second most in the Premier League, while leading the league with 53 shots on target themselves. This imbalance suggests defensive frailty amid attacking promise but little control over matches.
Despite the defeat, Chelsea sit fifth in the Premier League and have accumulated five more points than at the same stage last season. Alonso remains some way from establishing a clear style or identity for the team but said last week that they would be “different” and “better” by the end of the campaign. For now, though, the inconsistencies and lineup experiments continue to hamper the club as they enter the November international break.
According to BBC Sports.
