Chelsea overcome stubborn Brentford to gain more ground in title race | OneFootball

Goals from Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson secured a vital three points for Chelsea over west London rivals Brentford.

On a weekend where both Liverpool and Arsenal had dropped points, the win sees the Blues move to within two points of Arne Slot’s first-placed Reds – who have a game in hand.

Tonight was always going to be a big test for high-flying Chelsea, who came into the match off the back of a six-game winning run which had propelled them into the title race, despite manager Enzo Maresca playing down their chances.

After playing away in Kazakhstan on Thursday night, Maresca had his work cut out trying to break down a well drilled Brentford side, regardless of their poor away form.

Chelsea made 10 changes from the side which downed Astana in midweek but Brentford would have no need for such dramatic rotation, swapping just two names from the squad which emphatically beat Newcastle last time out.

The match promised to entertain, as Chelsea and Brentford had scored 66 goals between them in 30 league matches this year, and it more than lived up to its billing.

Mark Flekken would be the defining character of the opening stages, denying shots from both Jackson and Cole Palmer in the opening quarter of an hour.

As Chelsea struggled to capitalise on their early pressure, the game was crying out for a moment of magic from usual talisman, Palmer. The stadium vibrated with anticipation whenever the 22-year-old touched the ball, but even he struggled to wear down Brentford’s stubborn low block.

Noni Madueke was also having a difficult run of things for much of the first half, struggling to cause Brentford problems with the ball at his feet, but it would be his pinpoint cross that would eventually tee-up Marc Cucurella to open the scoring on 43 minutes. The Spaniard arrived late into the box, crashing into the area before delivering an acrobatic, leaping header to finally put the hosts ahead with his first Premier League goal for the Blues.

After the half-time break, frustration grew in both technical areas. Maresca paced with his head in his hands as Jackson fired over from close range, as Thomas Frank yelled and wildly gesticulated as Chelsea beat the Brentford press all too easily.

Chelsea’s forwards continued to be their own worst enemies. Chance after chance went unfulfilled as Madueke hit a weak shot following a blistering run towards goal and Sancho flouted a one-on-one, looking to round the keeper but overhitting his touch.

Christian Norgaard was spectacularly denied by a stretching Robert Sanchez on 73 minutes, denying a goal which would have gone firmly against the run of play. Shortly after, Carvalho rattled the bar from close range with his first touch, the visitors remaining frustrated as they chased Chelsea’s narrow lead.

Jackson would finally add much needed breathing room with ten minutes remaining, breaking away onto a Fernandez through ball. With Palmer for company, he opted to go it alone and smashed a shot into the bottom right corner, making amends for his glaring earlier miss.

Bryan Mbuemo would pull one back for the visitors late on, making for a particularly nervous seven minutes of added time, but it would ultimately be little more than a consolation.

Not due to face another top-six team until they host Manchester City in late January, the festive period provides Chelsea a chance to gain a further foothold in the title race, which Maresca continually insists his side are not a part of.