Blues players are 'apprehensive' about playing at Stamford Bridge, says Joe Cole

Joe Cole said Chelsea look 'apprehensive' when they play at home after their 2-0 loss against Brentford at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have won just one of their last 13 Premier League outings at home and were stung by the Bees on their own turf for the third season running.

While Mauricio Pochettino's men controlled the first half, Brentford came out fighting in the second and secured victory via goals from Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo.

Chelsea had been unbeaten in four games but let a 2-0 lead against Arsenal slip last time out and have only beaten Luton at home in the league since March.

Cole told TNT Sports: 'You can sense it when they come to the stadium and the fans are apprehensive – they don’t know what they’re going to get.

'I saw a lot of good signs in the last four games but today, the doubts crept into the players’ minds.

'The players are apprehensive and then the football becomes like you’re playing in mud when you get that doubt and concern. It’s very difficult to get out of that.

They’re in it now and they’ve got to find a way. It’s real tough to play football in these conditions but you’ve got to stick together as a group and find a way out of this.

'You have to give Brentford a lot of credit. The back five and midfield in front of them were outstanding defensively.

'From Chelsea’s perspective, it’s a real tough pill to swallow.'

Frustration brewed at Stamford Bridge when the goals didn't arrive and one fan clashed with Nicolas Jackson, demanding more from him while the striker replied with a finger to his mouth.

Pochettino also fired back at the fan and there was trouble on the bench when his no.2, Jesus Perez, had a spat with Bernardo Cueva, a member of Frank’s backroom team. Perez was sent off and it exposed