Our Under-21s put on an entertaining show on Tuesday evening in the first group-stage match of the EFL Bristol Street Motors Trophy, securing an impressive 3-2 win over newly promoted League Two side Bromley's senior team at Hayes Lane.

The Blues got off to a strong start, Donnell McNeilly opening the scoring with a powerful strike that found the top corner. Although the home side equalised, Chelsea quickly responded, regaining the lead before half-time with a well-taken effort from Harvey Vale.

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The second half began with the same intensity as the first, and the 21-year-old added another fine goal after a superb link-up with Brodi Hughes, slotting the ball into the bottom corner.

Bromley managed to score again with an impressive long-range curling effort as the game entered its closing stages, but it wasn’t enough to deny Chelsea the three points.

'I was proud of our performance against Bromley,' said Coelho, as he reflected on his team's result and performance. 'We continue focusing on our path of development and we’re seeing the results. Each competition presents different challenges, but we have to learn from our previous games to ensure we secure victory in the next.

'That’s exactly what we did. We’ve been correcting some mistakes that are natural for this stage of the season and I believe that helped us transition from a loss to a crucial match in our progression. Against Bromley, we displayed the same energy as we showed against West Brom, but we’ve been building on that momentum over the past few weeks.

'It was all about being proactive from the very start - setting the tone early, rather than letting the game dictate the pace. We took control of our destiny right from the first minute. Establishing our tempo early was key, and we delivered it brilliantly. We surprised Bromley with our aggression and how compact we were defensively.

'I’m proud of the performance, especially in how we started the match. We created several chances against a physically strong team that operates on a different level than ours.

'That’s why we’re in these competitions - to learn how to manage defensive duels and adapt our offensive play when there’s less space and more aggressive pressure. I’m very pleased with how we handled both defensive and offensive moments.'

The 39-year-old coach further highlighted his pride in the Blues' ability to fight from start to finish, both physically and mentally.

'I liked how the team was up for the battle, fighting hard until the very end. My message to the players was clear: when we don’t have the ball, we need to be ready for the fight.

'The passion and energy shown in those moments are crucial. I wanted them to be the best versions of themselves off the ball, and the boys delivered.

'It’s clear that we’re a team that loves possession, but we’re now creating more chances from wide areas, and the players are responding well.

'Even with Bromley’s press, we stayed calm in our build-up, found the spare man on several occasions and created problems for the opposition.

'I was proud to see the growth in the team. When Bromley scored their second goal late in the game, we reacted bravely. Young teams often crumble in those moments, but we showed maturity. Even when we conceded a few corners, we stayed sharp and proactive.'

After seeing that positive reaction from his side and securing another victory, the team heads into our next Premier League 2 fixture with growing confidence against West Ham. Although our Friday night opponents have started the league strong with four wins from four games, Coelho believes his squad has the desire to take home the three points.

'With such a quick turnaround, we don’t have much time to train and implement new strategies. So, we’ll focus on the common ground between matches to set our goals for West Ham.

'We know the points difference between us is significant, but it’s our job to close that gap. The points don’t reflect the true difference between the teams. We’re still early in our development and, while we’ve made mistakes, we’ve already shown growth and the ability to adapt.

'Our task is to maintain the mentality and energy we demonstrated against Bromley. It’s crucial to start well against a strong West Ham side. We need to prove that we want to be our best.

'We’ll carry the momentum from Bromley into this match and bring fresh energy to the pitch, just like we did against the senior side. This is about showing the same intensity and focus as we build on our recent performances.'

Watch the Blues in action

Chelsea Under-21s will be in action at Rush Green this Friday evening as we take on West Ham in the Premier League 2, with a 7pm kick-off. Supporters can watch our clash worldwide on the official Chelsea app and website, through the West Ham United vs Chelsea Under-21s Match Centre.