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Rosenior wants better from his men | Getty Images
Keith Andrews and Liam Rosenior have been speaking after Chelsea’s win over Brentford.
Liam Rosenior has been speaking after Chelsea’s win over Brentford on Saturday afternoon. The Blues took a first-half lead through Joao Pedro and put the game away with 14 minutes remaining when Cole Palmer tucked away a penalty.
Brentford came into this one in fine form, but Chelsea now leapfrog them and move to within two points of Liverpool in fourth place after they drew at home with Burnley.
This game was Rosenior’s first league game in charge, and it will be seen as a big test passed given Brentford’s form over recent weeks. But results are just part of the equation, with Rosenior well aware that it will take time to get his style of play across to his players.
Then again, he had no reservations about expressing his displeasure after the game, albeit in the context of an illness that has been making its way through his squad.
"It's running through the squad," said Rosenior when asked about the absences through illnmes. "There were a few, I won't say who, but there were a couple of players playing today who were complaining about their chests. They put in a magnificent effort.
"Liam was ill. Yesterday late, Estevao had a temperature and a fever. We just have to be really adaptable and adjust the way that we work. I felt that's why we weren't good with the ball. I won't give you names, it's not right for me to do that, but I'm so happy with the attitude of the group to get through this game."
The Chelsea boss added: “We didn't play the free-flowing football that I want us to in the end, but we got the job done and that's a really, really pleasing result for the players to give them and myself more confidence moving forward."
Andrews on Brentford display
Brentford boss Kieth Andrews felt his men deserved more from the game, telling BBC Sport: "Sometimes the game isn't fair. Ultimately, you've got to take the chances. You've got to control elements of the game a little bit better. Overall, I think when you look at the performance level today, it was at a very high level.
"Coming to Stamford Bridge - a midfield that's worth £200m - and controlling large parts of it, I don't see a confidence issue in the last two games away from home.
"I know everybody looks at things in a very black-and-white sense sometimes around league form - home versus away. But I think if you follow us closely, you'll see that our performance levels in the main have been of a reasonable standard away from home. We won the last two and came here today and played very, very well."
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