Player ratings from another disappointing away day for Chelsea

Chelsea fell further behind league leaders Arsenal after a third away defeat of the season at the Stadium of Light, losing 1-0 to Sunderland.

Xabi Alonso's side dropped more points after a contentious refereeing decision gave the struggling Black Cats a first-half penalty after Levi Colwill was adjudged to have fouled Brian Brobbey after 33 minutes.

In a game where Chelsea had the majority of possession but struggled to create many clear-cut chances, with Cole Palmer and Xabi Alonso believing that Chelsea should have been awarded a penalty before Regis Le Bris' side were given theirs after a tangle with Luke O'Nien.

Overall, it was a game that again left Chelsea fans wanting more, especially against a side that hadn't won a Premier League game since August, and disappointingly, another no-show from Chelsea's attacking talent.

We take a look at how each individual player performed on Tyne-Side,

Player ratings

Mike Penders - 6

Couldn't have done any more today than what he had to deal with, especially with the penalty, but managed to keep the Blues in the game for as long as they did, denying Luke O'Nien with a smart save in the first half, and giving them a lifeline by saving Wilson Isidor's shot after 77 minutes.

Marco Palestra - 6

Palestra was one of the best out of a bad bunch today, creating one of Chelsea's biggest chances, putting a cross in for Morgan Rogers to unfortunately head over.

Could count himself unlucky to be hooked just after the hour mark as Alonso shuffled his pack.

Levi Colwill - 4

Colwill was another one of Brian Brobbey's victims this season, to be bullied from pillar to post, inevitably giving away the penalty, but can feel hard done by Jarred Gillet's decision.

He was eventually taken off at half-time for Estevao as Alonso tried to get back into the side

Wesley Fofana - 5

The two centre backs today were like dumb and dumber, and Fofana could have easily been pulled off at half time instead of his partner in crime.

But in comparison to Colwill, the Frenchman had a better day, and actually created one of Chelsea's more promising chances, which fell to Cole Palmer, but ultimately it was another disappointing outing for Chelsea's £75 million man.

Pep Chavarria - 5

Showed glimpses of what he can do, getting forward when he can, and managed to nullify Thomas Meunier today, putting decent balls into the penalty box, but unfortunately, no one was home to get on the end of them.

Moises Caicedo - 6

Surprisingly slotted into centre back at half time with the withdrawal of Levi Colwill, the Ecuadorian had a different role today, playing a bit further forward playing alongside Lavia and Henderson

Caicedo was steady as ever in the midfield, giving the Blues a platform to build attacks on.

Jordan Henderson - 6

The inclusion of the ex-Sunderland man scratched heads, with Alonso's decision not to go with a number nine, was a calming figure as always, and actually was one of Chelsea's more lively and energetic players today.

Romeo Lavia - 6

Although Lavia struggled to replicate his form from last Saturday, the Belgian made a few nice dribbles and, as always, played progressive passes, but he was not able to fully shine with him and Caicedo interchanging at centre-back.

Morgan Rogers - 5

The England international should have put the Blues in front during the first half, failing to convert from Pep Chavarria's cross.

Sunderland did well to keep Rogers out of his usual spaces and away from creating chances, and Chelsea missed that badly today.

Cole Palmer - 5

Wanting to prove a point today to Thomas Tuchel for leaving him out of the England squad, Palmer looked dangerous at times, trying to get in behind, and thought he should have won a penalty, and rightly so.

Constantly got double-teamed, and like Rogers, was pretty ineffective today.

Pedro Neto - 4

Given a chance today to play as a false nine, but the in-form Portuguese failed to impress, staying much narrower than usual and unable to impact the game as he has been in previous weeks.

Was to be replaced by Welbeck, to bring on an out-and-out number nine.

Substitutes

Estevao - 6

Looked lively when he came on, bringing some much-needed input, but couldn't find any end product which Chelsea needed at the stage of the game.

Danny Welbeck - 4

Practically invisible, but with the presence of a number nine, it made Chelsea a much more structured and dangerous side, maybe something that Alonso should have gone with from the outset.

Malo Gusto - 6

After a few tough weeks, Gusto looked comfortable on the ball, coming close to lobbing Robin Roefs, and gave Estevao the license to get further forward.

Geovany Quenda - N/A

Emmanuel Emegha - N/A

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