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Chelsea’s hopes of European football took another hit as they failed to beat Brentford for a fifth successive match as the two West London clubs battled to a 2-2 draw.
Thomas Frank’s team had led until the 83rd minute but Axel Disasi headed home his first goal since the opening weekend against Liverpool to earn a point.
How the match unfolded
There was no Neal Maupay for Brentford as Yoanne Wissa took the Frenchman’s place in attack for the Bees. Keane Lewis-Potter and Ben Mee were also out as Mads Roerslev and Nathan Collins returned.
Mauricio Pochettino made one change, with Trevoh Chalobah replacing Raheem Sterling.
Chelsea assumed early control of the match, holding 72 per cent possession in the first half but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.
Nicolas Jackson came close to opening the scoring after receiving a through-ball from Enzo Fernandez and rounding Mark Flekken, but his weak shot was cleared by Zanka.
However five minutes later the striker redeemed himself with a leaping headed goal between the two Brentford centre-backs from a well-placed Malo Gusto cross.
Thomas Frank’s side were much more combative in the second half and it soon paid off as Roerslev scored his first goal in over two years, smashing home a loose ball after Sergio Reguilion’s effort had been blocked.
Brentford went close soon after as Vitaly Janelt’s low driven effort from the edge of the box sliced through the legs of Chalobah to hit a post.
The home team continued to attack and were rewarded by Wissa’s spectacular goal. Frank Onyeka’s reflex flick-up in the area was converted by Congolese’s bicycle kick.
But with seven minutes remaining, Disasi earned Chelsea a point as he headed in a good curling cross by Cole Palmer who received the ball from a corner.
The point takes Brentford above Everton into 15th on 26 points, six clear of the bottom three. Chelsea remain 11th with 36 points.
Club reports
Brentford report | Chelsea report
Match Officials
Referee: Jarred Gillett. Assistants: Darren Cann, Akil Howson. Fourth official: Oliver Langford. VAR: Michael Salisbury. Assistant VAR: Natalie Aspinall.
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