Brentford produced perhaps the performance of the season to thrash Chelsea 4-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Christian Eriksen among the goal scorers as they sealed a first west London derby victory at their rivals in 83 years.

Thomas Frank's side impressed in the first half but trailed three minutes into the second when Antonio Rudiger fired home an incredible thunderbolt from 35 yards.

Vitaly Janelt blasted in an equaliser from the edge of the box just two minutes later, sparking a spell which saw the two teams slug away at each other. During the chaos, Kristoffer Ajer pulled off a superb block to deny Kai Havertz.

But it was the Bees who then struck again with a lightning breakaway led by Bryan Mbeumo, who teed up Eriksen to tuck in the second from close range.

It's another chapter in the fairy-tale return to football for Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest at the Euros last summer but marked his comeback to the international stage with two goals in two games for Denmark last week.

As for the Brentford story, that looks set to continue in the Premier League next season after this incredible win.

Player ratings

Chelsea: Mendy (5), Azpilicueta (5), Rudiger (7), Silva (6), Alonso (4), Kante (5), Loftus-Cheek (5), Mount (5), Werner (4), Ziyech (6), Havertz (5).

Subs: James (6), Kovacic (6), Lukaku (5).

Brentford: Raya (8), Henry (7), Pinnock (7), Jansson (7), Ajer (8), Norgaard (8), Eriksen (8), Janelt (9), Roerslev (7), Mbeumo (8), Toney (7).

Subs: Jensen (6), Wissa (8) Canos (N/A).

Man of the Match: Vitaly Janelt

Janelt found the net again on the hour mark after a superb pass from Ivan Toney and although Chelsea threw themselves forward in search of a goal back - and thought they got one when Havertz had a goal ruled out and should have got one when Havertz rolled a shot from a one-on-one wide - sub Yoane Wissa capitalised on Rudiger's poor clearance to fire in a fourth.

"Champions of Europe? You're having a laugh," sang the travelling supporters, witnessing one of the greatest days in their club's history.

The short-term value of the victory is huge - Brentford are now 11 points clear of the relegation zone - and the memories of this triumph will live long in the memory for Bees fans.

The Chelsea season ticket holders - the only Blues fans allowed in due to government sanctions - will want to move on quickly, with the defence of their Champions League title on the line against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

They had won their last five in the league and pre-game it felt as though Brentford's Premier League fate would more likely be decided by their clash with Watford in a couple of weeks' time. Brentford, after all, had failed to score in their two previous meetings with Chelsea this season.

However, in their first league game at Chelsea since November 1946, a surprise formation switch to 3-5-2 saw Brentford put their hosts under pressure from the off.

They should have been a couple clear with just 11 minutes on the clock, with Toney miscuing a lob from Edouard Mendy's gift of a pass before the striker headed a cross narrowly over the bar.

An Eriksen free-kick and a Toney drive were among the other chances they created during an impressive opening.

Chelsea had to wait until the 21st minute for their first attempt when Mason Mount shot over and although there were subsequent efforts from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mount and Rudiger, they were tame ones, with the hosts struggling to break through the Brentford system.

Chelsea's best moment of the first half came on 40 minutes, when Hakim Ziyech forced Bees goalkeeper David Raya to brilliantly tip over his bar, and they began the second half positively.

But Brentford seized the west London bragging rights in sensational style, winning for the first time here since 1939 - and worryingly for Chelsea, with the gap to an Arsenal side with a game in hand now just five points, their north London neighbours could be coming for them too.

Tuchel: We lost control for 10 minutes

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel: "We lost control in 10 minutes. 3-1 within 10 minutes was decisive. We lacked energy today and we looked mentally and physically tied after being around the world. We thought we got the result [at 1-0] but we forgot we still had 40 minutes to play.

"After so many wins and so many good results I refuse to make a drama out of it because why should we. Brentford made a lot of the 10 minutes we gave them. After the third goal we had a disallowed goal, we had a pressing situation against the goalkeeper, a big, big chance for Havertz, we missed three of them and a feeling 'this is not our day'. There are some reasons we can put on us and we will analyse."

Opta stats - Historic day for Brentford

Brentford have beaten Chelsea for the first time in nine meetings in all competitions, since a 3-1 away win in the top-flight in February 1939.

Brentford's 4-1 win against Chelsea is the joint-biggest Premier League away victory for a newly promoted team against a side starting the day in the top three of the table (also Leeds 3-0 Aston Villa in October 2020).

Brentford scored four or more goals in a top-flight London derby for the first time since a 5-2 victory against Charlton in October 1937.

Chelsea have lost by three or more goals in a Premier League London derby at Stamford Bridge for just the second time, after a 0-3 defeat to Arsenal in April 1997.

Chelsea have conceded four or more goals in the Premier League at home to a newly promoted side for just the second time (also 2-5 against West Brom in April 2021), both occasions under Thomas Tuchel.

Brentford's Christian Eriksen scored his first Premier League goal since December 2019 (for Tottenham against Norwich), he's been directly involved in eight goals (three goals, five assists) against Chelsea in the competition, with all three goals arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Rüdiger's opener (39.6 yards) was Chelsea's longest range Premier League goal since Frank Lampard against Wigan in January 2007 (45.1 yards).

Vitaly Janelt scored his first ever brace for Brentford in all competitions, netting as many Premier League goals today as he managed in his previous 24 appearances in the competition combined (2).

What's next?

Chelsea are in Champions League action on Tuesday as they host Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final; 8pm kick-off. Then on Saturday, April 9 the Blues go to Southampton in the Premier League; kick-off 3pm.

Meanwhile, Brentford host West Ham on Sunday, April 10; kick-off 2pm.

Click Here For Official Team Sheet

Teams

Chelsea Mendy, Azpilicueta (c), Silva, Rudiger, Alonso (James 55), Loftus-Cheek, Kante (Lukaku 65), Mount, Ziyech, Havertz, Werner (Kovacic 64)
Subs Not Used Kepa, Christensen, Sarr, Jorginho, Saul, Barkley
Booked
Goals Rudiger 48

Brentford Raya, Ajer, Jansson (c), Pinnock, Roerslev, Norgaard, Janelt (Jensen 82), Henry (Canos 88), Eriksen, Mbeumo (Wissa 85), Toney
Subs Not Used Fernandez, Bech Sorensen, Zanka, Baptiste, Fosu-Henry, Ghoddos
Booked
Goals Janelt 50, 61, Erikson 54, Wissa 87

Attendance 39,061

Referee Chris Kavanagh

VAR David Coote