Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders has suggested Sunderland defended with all 11 players behind the ball during Sunday's Premier League encounter at the Stadium of Light, admitting his side struggled to break down Régis Le Bris' disciplined defensive unit.

The Black Cats secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Xabi Alonso's side, producing a determined performance to ease some of the pressure surrounding their difficult start to the campaign. Chelsea enjoyed spells of possession, particularly during the second half, but struggled to find a way through Sunderland's organised defence, with the hosts showing the resilience that had been missing from some of their recent performances.

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Speaking to Chelsea's official website after the final whistle, Penders acknowledged Sunderland's physical approach and the difficulties his teammates encountered. "Very disappointed with the result," Penders said. "You know when you come here to their stadium that it will be a difficult game, and they fought very hard. At one point, it went very fast from side to side. Sometimes we had control and, of course, in certain moments when you go higher up the pitch, they will be very aggressive, and the way they play is very difficult."

However, the Chelsea goalkeeper appeared frustrated by Sunderland's willingness to defend deep, suggesting the hosts effectively committed their entire team to protecting their advantage. "In the second half they dropped very low and had every man behind the ball, so we had a bit more control, and we had to push," he explained. "We had some chances, but it was difficult against 11 behind the ball to find the right spaces. We kept pushing, especially in the last 15 minutes; we kept dropping balls at them, but it wasn't enough."