Bottom-ranked Sunderland shocked Chelsea at the Stadium of Light following a disputed penalty that dashed the hopes of the Blues.

Enzo Le Fee successfully converted the penalty after Levi Colwill was deemed to have clipped Brian Brobbey’s heels inside the box.

However, Colwill was not the only notable player to have a disappointing day for Xabi Alonso’s squad; only the wingers left the pitch with their heads held high.

Here’s how SunSport’s Mitchell Hall rated the travelling Blues…

Mike Penders – 6

Penders had little to do regarding Enzo Le Fee’s neat penalty and was generally involved minimally in the game.

He stood firm and forced Brobbey to miss a one-on-one chance with a hasty shot.

Penders also rescued Fofana after an ill-timed slide allowed Sunderland a golden chance right in front of goal.

Marco Palestra – 7

Palestra was fearless in his forward runs and delivered a wonderful cross that Morgan Rogers should have at least directed on goal.

He assisted Fofana in defense, and Sunderland rarely threatened his side.

He was substituted as part of Alonso’s reshuffle on the right wing.

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Wesley Fofana – 5

Fofana was left looking foolish when Brobbey faked him out, but he managed Sunderland’s counter-attacks reasonably well for the most part.

He ventured forward surprisingly well and created one of Chelsea’s best opportunities with a pass to Palmer, who was fouled just outside the box.

However, he negated some of that positive impact with a bizarre sliding tackle on Caicedo inside the box, inadvertently assisting Wilson Isidor.

Levi Colwill – 5

Colwill was lucky to escape punishment as Brobbey got past him in front of goal and missed a volley wide.

His luck continued when Brobbey brushed him aside easily before fooling Fofana and later sending his shot over the bar.

Facing the Dutchman was a tall order, but he seemed to embody the counter-attack against their defensive pairing, although he was harshly penalized by referee Jarred Gillett for the penalty call.

Pep Chavarria – 7

Chavarria faced a tough match-up against the much larger Thomas Meunier but delivered a commendable performance.

He was energetic, providing several quick balls into the box that narrowly missed finding their targets.

Defensively, he was solid early on, making a crucial block that could have prevented Chelsea from falling behind in the opening ten minutes, but he was pushed further up the field after falling behind.

A bright spot in an otherwise ineffective Chelsea attack.

Jordan Henderson – 6

One cannot claim that the experienced veteran has lost his pace.

The former Liverpool midfielder was frequently Chelsea’s most dynamic presser, charging after defenders and even Sunderland’s goalkeeper at one point.

He was part of a midfield trio that struggled to navigate through Sunderland’s tightly packed defense.

Moises Caicedo – 5

Playing in a more advanced role than usual alongside Lavia and Henderson behind him, Caicedo struggled to deliver a decisive ball in Chelsea’s attacking phases.

He ended up stepping back to play as a center-back in the second half after Colwill was substituted for Estevao.

Romeo Lavia – 6

Lavia dropped between the center-backs to create a back three when the full-backs pushed up—meaning he had limited opportunities to impact the game with possession.

A reliable presence, but he lacked the sharpness that Chelsea required in midfield playmaking.

Cole Palmer – 5

Palmer was unfortunate not to earn a penalty after evading Luke O’Nien on the half-turn.

For the majority, he was consistently double-teamed and unable to find space, resulting in frequent struggles with his first touches.

Thomas Tuchel won’t be worrying about Palmer’s absence from the England squad after this performance.

Morgan Rogers – 4

He should have converted Palestra’s ideal cross into the box, even though he is not particularly known for his heading strength.

Like Palmer, he struggled to influence the game in critical areas, and Chelsea missed his dribbling skills to break down Sunderland’s solid defense.

Rogers sparked a scuffle when he fouled Trai Hume while the Sunderland player was on the ground.

Pedro Neto – 4

Neto found it extremely challenging to get involved as the furthest man forward.

He was forced to narrow his positioning and pin the center-backs, which left him isolated from the ball and unproductive with attempts over the top.

He was replaced by Welbeck, who was positioned more as a traditional No9.

Substitutes

Estevao (for Colwill 46′) – 6

Estevao injected much-needed pace on the wing and effectively reached the goal-line, cutting the ball back into dangerous areas.

Palestra had done a commendable job managing the width, but Chelsea clearly improved with a winger positioned higher to stretch Sunderland’s backline.

Welbeck (for Neto 62′) – 5

Welbeck came on to add a traditional No9 element, as Neto’s impact on Sunderland’s defense was minimal.

His entry, in conjunction with Estevao’s introduction on the wing, shifted Chelsea to a classic front three, which appeared more effective.

Nonetheless, Welbeck remained isolated upfront and failed to make the decisive impact expected of him.

Gusto (for Palestra 62′) – 7

Gusto, who had received criticism in prior matches, displayed composure off the bench.

He was sharp in his tackles and provided a steady foundation for Chelsea and Estevao to advance down the right flank.

Geovany Quenda (for Chavarria 79′) – 7

Upon his introduction, Quenda nearly equalized with a deflected shot that rolled just wide of the post.

He looked lively against Meunier, though his crosses never quite met their intended targets.

Emmanuel Emegha (for Henderson 88′) – N/A