SUNDERLAND 1-0 CHELSEA: Player ratings from the Stadium of Light as the Blues fall out of the Premier League top four

Enzo Le Fee fired Sunderland to a 1-0 win over Chelsea, giving Xabi Alonso plenty to think about during the upcoming international break.

Sunderland leapt out of the gates at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon, and they nearly broke the deadlock inside the opening quarter of an hour when Brian Brobbey latched onto a searching cross from Chemsdine Talbi and flashed wide from close range.

The Black Cats striker squandered another gilt-edged chance a few moments later, clipping the ball over the bar. Brobbey pounced on a stray pass in the middle of the park, catching Chelsea outnumbered at the back.

The Netherlands international chased Wesley Fofana all the way from the halfway line back into the 18-yard box before drifting wide and attempting to chip Mike Penders. He was eventually rewarded for his hard work, winning a penalty after picking a fight with Levi Colwill.

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Brobbey, who had pinned the Blues defender from the first whistle, grabbed his collar and darted towards the byline, almost ripping the shirt off his back. The Sunderland talisman clipped his own ankle and went down, but Colwill was adjudged to have committed a foul.

Enzo Le Fee converted the spot-kick, giving Regis Le Bris' side a slender lead at the break. Chelsea enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the second half, but despite a number of desperate substitutions that chopped and changed the side, they failed to level proceedings on the River Wear.

So, with that being said, football.london has rated the performance of each and every Chelsea player.

Mike Penders – 6

Mike Penders hardly put a foot wrong, and he couldn't have done anything about the spot-kick. The Chelsea goalkeeper made a really nice save in the second half, getting down low to deny Luke O'Nien, but there was an offside in the build-up.

He made another great stop in the 77th minute, denying Wilson Isidor to give the Blues a lifeline.

Pep Chavarria – 4

Pep Chavarria was put through his paces in the first half; he made an important block inside the opening quarter of an hour, stopping Sunderland from breaking the deadlock a little sooner than they did.

Levi Colwill – 3

Levi Colwill struggled to cope with the physicality of Brian Brobbey before eventually conceding a penalty. The Sunderland striker bullied him for the entirety of the first half, and there were plenty of warning signs before Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot.

In fairness to the Chelsea defender, though, he was unfortunate, having been man-handled himself in the build-up to the alleged foul. Brobbey almost ripped the shirt off his back before tripping himself up, yet it was Colwill who, despite hardly initiating contact, was punished, even after intervention by the Video Assistant Referee.

Wesley Fofana – 5

Wesley Fofana did particularly well when Sunderland first broke clear in the first half, steering Brian Brobbey wide to take the sting out of the counter-attack. Generally speaking, he did well.

Marco Palestra – 4

Although Marco Palestra was a little like Bambi on ice in the first half, he did create Chelsea's best chance of the first half, clipping a cross into the six-yard box, which Morgan Rogers headed over.

Jordan Henderson – 4

Jordan Henderson made the 700th appearance of his senior club career, 18 years and seven days on from his debut, when he faced Chelsea for Sunderland. Despite the occasion, he didn't really justify his inclusion in the middle of the park. The Blues probably would've been better off with a conventional striker up front.

Romeo Lavia – 6

Romeo Lavia was solid in the middle of the park, recycling possession, playing progressive passes, and sweeping up loose balls.

Moises Caicedo – 6

Much like Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo was a rock in midfield, giving Chelsea a strong foundation to build from. The Blues midfielder shifted to centre-back in the second half, and did well.

Morgan Rogers – 4

Morgan Rogers didn't quite have the desired impact. A couple of nice flashes, but generally pretty quiet.

Pedro Neto – 4

Pedro Neto put in the hard yards, but was unable to make a difference.

Cole Palmer – 4

Cole Palmer thought he won Chelsea a penalty in the first half, having been chopped down, but a review by the Video Assistant Referee claimed he had been fouled outside of the box. Another strange call by the match officials. Otherwise, the Blues star hardly had a sniff.

Substitutes

Estevao Willian – 5

Estevao Willian was bright, but he couldn't provide the quality needed to make a difference.

Danny Welbeck – 4

Danny Welbeck hardly had a sniff.

Malo Gusto – 4

Malo Gusto offered fresh legs, but he didn't make any difference.

Geovany Quenda – 5

Geovany Quenda was positive when he came on in the second half, forcing a corner with his first action: a drop of the shoulder and low driven strike.

Emmanuel Emegha – 5

Emmanuel Emegha spearheaded a promising counter-attack shortly after coming on, only to be brought down. Otherwise, he hardly had a sniff.

Chelsea starting lineup vs Sunderland: Mike Penders; Pep Chavarria, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Marco Palestra; Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Jordan Henderson; Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto.

Substitutes: Teddy Sharman-Lowe; Aaron Anselmino, Malo Gusto; Valentin Barco, Madi Nicoll-Jazuli; Geovany Quenda, Estevao Willian, Danny Welbeck, Emmanuel Emegha.