Chelsea dropped two points in the race to secure Champions League qualification as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Brentford. With this match coming not even 72 hours after the midweek win over Tottenham, Enzo Maresca was expected to make changes but the team news did still come as a surprise.
Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Levi Colwill were among those to drop to the bench, as the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were handed rare starts. The best chances in the match fell Brentford’s way, Mikkel Damsgaard threatening in the opening period and Sepp van den Berg somehow heading into the ground and over the bar in the second-half, as Chelsea largely struggled.
Nicolas Jackson was introduced at half-time and offered more of a threat, but Cole Palmer’s arrival on the hour mark had little impact on the whole. He did, though, have an opportunity to snatch with the final victory, only to curl an effort just over the bar.
Chance with the final kick!
Space for Palmer on his left foot, it’s a good effort… inches over.
90+2 mins: Brentford not forcing anything on the ball.
They look the side happier to settle for a point.
90 mins: Four minutes added on.
Fernandez with a decent opportunity just inside the box, but he sends it a long way wide as he swivels.
89 mins: Doesn’t feel like one of those ‘there will be one more big chance’ kind of matches.
Quality in the final third has largely been lacking all match.
86 mins: Fernandez into the book for a hack at Mbeumo, caught him on the ankle.
Chelsea do love a yellow card. Only three this afternoon – well-behaved by their standards.
84 mins: How much do either side want to risk going for the win?
Chelsea, you feel, have more incentive to do so. That race for Champions League football is very tight.
Brentford should be in front. Perfect cross clipped into the middle, Van den Berg somehow heads it into the ground and over from a few yards out.
And within a minute, another chance. Wissa flicks a header just wide!
79 mins: Cucurella on for James.
Ajer heads the ball behind under no pressure, gifts Chelsea a corner.
Neto floats it in with absolutely no pace… terrible.
Brentford can break after a lovely touch from Mbeumo, one-two with Wissa and Sanchez is forced into a sharp save.
77 mins: So, so good from Jackson.
Brings the ball down, flicks it over his header and he’s away… until Van den Berg drags him back.
As easy a yellow card decision as you’ll see.
It doesn’t feel as though Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has taken his golden opportunity this afternoon.
He hasn’t been as effective as Fernandez at wrestling free of his marker in midfield.
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