Chelsea fail to seize chance to strengthen top-four position following goalless stalemate at Brentford

Chelsea squandered a vital opportunity to solidify their position in the Premier League’s top four, settling for a goalless draw against West London rivals Brentford.

Following a significant victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, it wasn’t surprising to see Enzo Maresca make some adjustments to his lineup for this encounter.

With a UEFA Conference League quarter-final looming midweek and four regular starters rested on the bench, Chelsea’s slow start was to be expected. The best early chance fell to the Blues, but Christopher Nkunku’s unmarked header inside the penalty area sailed wide.

Aside from that miss, the first quarter of the match was largely uneventful, as Brentford sat back and waited to capitalise on any mistakes from Chelsea.

Kristoffer Ajer, Yoane Wissa, and Mikkel Damsgaard all failed to take advantage of half-chances for Brentford before the interval, reflecting the lacklustre nature of the first half.

Chants of “we’ve had a shot” from the Chelsea supporters before half-time highlighted the overall performance of both teams during the early stages.

With Chelsea chasing a top-four finish this season, they could not afford any missteps. Recognising the stakes, Maresca made his first substitution just after the hour, bringing on Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto.

Palmer almost made an immediate impact, forcing Brentford’s Mark Flekken into a superb save to deny his curling shot. Although Brentford were less desperate for a win, having established a comfortable mid-table position, they still posed a threat and nearly snatched a goal when Kevin Schade’s effort flashed across the goal.

Surprisingly, it was Brentford who were pushing for the winner, coming close again when Bryan Mbeumo’s attempt forced an excellent save from Robert Sanchez, followed by Wissa’s header that went narrowly wide.

Ultimately, neither side was able to find a late breakthrough, and the game wound down towards its conclusion.

The draw means that Brentford have not defeated Chelsea at home since 1938. While the Blues have extended that impressive streak, this match will likely fade from memory quickly.