Chelsea failed to win again on Saturday, as Mauricio Pochettino’s side got out to an early lead, then fell apart and fell behind, before rallying to rescue a point in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Brentford in a west London derby.
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The draw keeps Chelsea (36 points), who have just one win from their last five Premier League games, 11th in the table, now just two points behind Wolves for a place in the top half. Brentford (26 points), meanwhile, remain 15th themselves and are now six points clear of the relegation zone.
Stop-start progress getting Chelsea, Pochettino nowhere
Much like the last couple of seasons, Chelsea’s 2023-24 campaign has constantly felt like taking take two steps forward followed by one step (or maybe more) back. Aside from losing the League Cup final, Chelsea’s display on the day was largely fantastic and the Blues were terribly unlucky to not lift the trophy. Sure, they did it against a patchwork Liverpool side featuring a handful of academy kids, but it was also a massive stage for a young team still searching for its identity. Now, a week later, they went missing for such long stretches of the game against Brentford and were hugely fortunate to get something out of it. Barring a small miracle over the final 12 games, Chelsea will likely fail to qualify for European competition two seasons in a row for the first time since 1998.
Chelsea enjoyed a 72-percent share of possession in the first half, as Enzo Fernandez largely ran the show from midfield and drove the Blues forward. Perhaps the game’s best chance came and went in the 30th minute, when Nicolas Jackson coolly dribbled around goalkeeper Mark Flekken and rolled the ball goal-ward, only for Zanka to streak across the goal mouth and boot the ball clear in the nick of time.
Their breakthrough was a bit belated, but finally arrived in the 35th minute as Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto combined on the right wing before the Frenchman curled a high cross into the box, where Jackson made a darting run and beat Zanka to the spot. Jackson got their first and rose highest, leaving Flekken rooted to the ground as he headed into the bottom corner for PL goal no. 8 on the season.
The second half saw things take a dramatic swing the other direction, as Brentford jumped all over Chelsea after the halftime restart and found themselves level after five minutes. Ivan Toney played a cross from the right wing and found Sergio Reguilon near the penalty spot, but the Tottenham loanee scuffed his shot. The ball rolled slowly into open space and the six-yard box, and Mads Roerslev arrived perfectly timed to poke it inside the far post for 1-1. Two minutes later, Vitaly Janelt smashed the front side of the post and Chelsea narrowly avoided a complete collapse in the span of seven minutes.
Chelsea still couldn’t tilt the field back the other direction and found themselves under constant pressure as the second half wore on. Eventually, the Bees hit jackpot with a surefire Goal of the Season contender from Yoane Wissa. Reguilon dinked a cross to Frank Onyeka atop the penalty area but he mis-controlled it high and far — right to Wissa, who flung himself into the air, heels over head, and whipped the ball into the bottom corner.
Brentford looked like they might hold on for the comeback victory, but Chelsea battled their way back into the game and found an equalizer in the 83rd minute. A short corner led to Cole Palmer whipping a cross into the penalty area with Chelsea’s big targets, including center back Axel Disasi, up for the set piece. Disasi read it and attacked the ball with a flying header and gave Flekken no chance to make the save once again.
What’s next?
Chelsea will try to fight their way back into the top half a week from Monday (4 pm ET), when they host fellow mid-table strugglers Newcastle at Stamford Bridge. Brentford will travel from west to north London to take on Arsenal next Saturday (12:30 pm ET).
Player ratings - Brentford vs Chelsea
Brentford vs Chelsea, final score: 2-2
Goalscorers: Nicolas Jackson (35'), Mads Roerslev (50'), Yoane Wissa (69' - WATCH HERE), Axel Disasi (83')
35th minute - GOAL - Nicolas Jackson reaches Malo Gusto’s cross to make it 1-0
50th minute - GOAL - Mads Roerslev cleans up to bring Brentford level
69th minute - GOAL - Yoane Wissa scissor kick puts Brentford in front
83rd minute - GOAL - Axel Disasi heads home Chelsea’s equalizer
How to watch Brentford vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kickoff: 10am ET Saturday
Odds: Brentford (+200) vs Chelsea (+120) | Draw (+275)
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Stream via Peacock Premium
Brentford starting lineup
Flekken — Zanka, Ajer, Collins — Roerslev, Onyeka, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon — Toney, Wissa
Chelsea starting lineup
Petrovic — Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell — Caicedo, Chalobah, Fernandez — Palmer, Gallagher, Jackson
Brentford focus, team news
OUT: Ben Mee (ankle - out for season), Ethan Pinnock (ankle), Bryan Mbeumo (ankle), Rico Henry (torn ACL - out for season), Kevin Schade (adductor), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Josh Dasilva (torn ACL - out for season)
Chelsea focus, team news
OUT: Christopher Nkunku (undisclosed), Reece James (thigh), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Carney Chukwuemeka (ankle), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL - out for season), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (groin), Marc Cucurella (ankle)
