Graham Potter attempted each approaches. Chelsea’s head trainer went with the academy boys from the birth and he became to the dear cohort on his bench when he wanted a winner. Afterwards, regardless that, Potter would admit that Chelsea’s assault nonetheless calls for additional refurbishment. The onslaught took too lengthy to arrive and, despite the fact that the stadium was once an frightened position throughout the loss of life phases, Brentford’s defiance ensured there was once no method thru.
There was once Ethan Pinnock denying Raheem Sterling when the ahead regarded sure to ranking the winner. David Raya made necessary saves. Chelsea had sniping runs from Christian Pulisic, glimmers from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and a promising cameo from Carney Chukwuemeka, however Brentford had center and organisation.
Thomas Frank’s facet greater than merited a point and may just argue {that a} well-known victory would had been theirs had Ivan Toney no longer change into the newest striker to uncover that Kepa Arrizabalaga has change into one among the perfect goalkeepers in the Premier League. Arrizabalaga’s trio of stops from Toney have been the major sure for Potter. Chelsea have been ragged at the again for lengthy spells and, despite the fact that they continue to be in fourth position, Manchester United are just a point in the back of them sooner than visiting Stamford Bridge on Saturday. “They had chances,” mentioned Potter, whose five-match profitable run is over. “We had chances. A point was right.”
Potter would house in on Brentford’s physicality, the method their entrance two of Toney and Bryan Mbeumo “hassle” defenders, and it was once an evening when Chelsea would pine for N’Golo Kanté. Nobody would had been higher provided to cancel out Brentford’s power and not anything summed up Chelsea’s loss of robustness in the heart greater than the sight of Jorginho making an attempt to stay up with Mbeumo as he tore down the left and created an early probability for Toney.
Chelsea lived on the edge. Potter had shuffled the pack, making 5 adjustments from the win over Aston Villa, however there was once little concord. Marc Cucurella struggled at left wing-back and the early high quality got here from Brentford. They have been speedy and frenetic, clever and dynamic and virtually led when Mads Roerslev crossed from the correct for Toney to draw a sensible save from Arrizabalaga.*
“I’m very proud of my team,” Frank mentioned. “I love the attitude and work ethic and intensity. It’s unbelievably impressive that we make it so difficult for them. The lads are so disappointed we didn’t win. If there was a winner it should have been us.”
Brentford fizzed with self belief. Their wing-backs, Roerslev and Rico Henry, driven top. The switches of play have been consistent and a part of the plan was once to prod at Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who crammed in for Reece James at correct wing-back. “They make it difficult for you to control,” Potter mentioned. “They make it unstable.”
It took the in poor health Conor Gallagher going off and Mateo Kovacic approaching to spouse Jorginho for Chelsea to achieve a foothold. César Azpilicueta crept ahead to take a look at Raya from lengthy vary. Armando Broja, all uncooked tempo and gear on his first birth for his boyhood membership, started to terrify Ben Mee.
Yet too many assaults broke down at the ft of Kai Havertz. Mason Mount was once surprisingly quiet as neatly and Brentford noticed vulnerabilities in Chelsea’s again 3. Kalidou Koulibaly failed to persuade when he bought himself in a problem with Frank Onyeka. Then Loftus-Cheek misjudged a clearance, forcing Arrizabalaga to deny Toney once more.
Brentford had their possibilities. Toney dithered in the space and Koulibaly blocked. There was once a deficient pass over from Mbeumo, who headed instantly at Arrizabalga in the fiftieth minute.
The worry of a sucker punch grew. Potter had guns on his bench and he rang the adjustments after the hour, the creation of Pulisic, Sterling and Chukwuemeka for Cucurella, Mount and Broja permitting Chelsea to shift into extra of an attacking mode. It was once daring from Potter. Sterling threatened from left wing-back and Chukwuemeka, who had best performed 4 mins for Chelsea since becoming a member of from Villa, was once vigorous. The 18-year-old examined Brentford, who wanted Raya to be alert with a Havertz shot.
Yet Havertz did neatly to remaining 81 mins sooner than making method for Aubameyang. Brentford additionally had a past due probability, Arrizabalaga repelling Toney, and it might had been harsh if Chukwuemeka had overwhelmed Raya in stoppage time.