Brentford 0-0 Chelsea: Bees hold Enzo Maresca’s side to a frustrating draw in west London derby to slow Blues momentum in top four race

It was after having resembled a cure for insomnia, and with Brentford’s fans tauntingly chanting ‘boring, boring Chelsea’, that Enzo Maresca brought on the big boys whom he had surprisingly benched. First up, Nicolas Jackson. Then, Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto. Next, Marc Cucurella.

The difference was stark, night and day, as Chelsea finally created chances in the second half after making those substitutes.

Maresca hoped the winner would follow and with it, vindication for his tinkering. He had taken a risk – an almighty one where he would either look like a tactical genius or a numpty by full-time.

Jackson, you could perhaps understand, given he only returned from his hamstring injury less than a week ago. But Palmer? He is Chelsea’s best player, even when out of form.

Given this finished goalless, and a point will not help their push for a Champions League place too tremendously, we can only say the gamble did not exactly come off.

Chelsea remain fourth in the Premier League, but they have not won away from home since December 8. This was a chance to end that wait, but Maresca did not help himself with his decisions.

Enzo Maresca experimented with his starting XI, benching Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea looked better after going back to their familiar faces in the second half, but could not break Brentford down

Chelsea were passing it nicely from the get-go, though whenever Robert Sanchez was in possession, Brentford’s supporters increased the volume. You do not need to be Anne Robinson to know Sanchez is the visitors’ weakest link in playing from the back.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper can look like a nervous wreck when using his feet. Occasionally, Sanchez and Chelsea’s defenders looked long but that was harsh on their 5ft 10in Christopher Nkunku, who was being marked by a 6ft 4in duo in Nathan Collins and Sepp van den Berg. Nkunku did not help himself much with his mobility, mind. He resembled a traffic cone at times.

Maresca’s system involved Malo Gusto inverting into midfield from right back. Brentford tried to use that to their advantage by sending balls into the space he had vacated. One such move in the 20th minute led to Kevin Schade setting up Yoane Wissa, whose shot was blocked.

After 25 minutes, Gusto was booked for dragging down Schade away from the ball. It was silly, and gave Brentford a central 20-yard free-kick. Mikkel Damsgaard’s curler landed narrowly over.

From then on, it was Thomas Frank’s team who looked likeliest to score a first-half opener. They were helped by Sanchez when he gave away yet another ball, though Damsgaard produced an air-kick once he only had the goalkeeper in his way. Bryan Mbeumo fired a 20-yarder narrowly wide, while Sanchez caught Keane Lewis-Potter’s header from a corner.

‘Boring, boring Chelsea,’ sang the home supporters. Word is a few away fans joined in, too, as they also begged: ‘Attack, attack, attack, attack, attack.’

Maresca made a single change at half-time, bringing on Jackson for Nkunku, and that substitution’s announcement led to loud cheers from the Chelsea end. After 49 minutes, Jackson broke behind on to a long ball. 

He fired wide, but it was already more intent than we had seen from the striker he replaced. Jackson was also involved when Van Den Berg nearly scored an own goal as Mark Flekken made the save to deny him that indignity.

Chelsea remain fourth but are vulnerable to Man City behind, while Brentford stay in 11th place

Palmer and Neto were then brought on. The latter struck two fierce shots at Flekken, while Reece James’ header was pushed wide. It was now all Chelsea, but in the 79th minute came a Brentford counter-attack which started with them defending a corner.

Mbeumo sprinted from his own box, played a one-two with Wissa, but Sanchez made a big save to stop him. Brentford should have led seconds later when Van Den Berg had a completely free header inside the six-yard box. Somehow, he missed. As did Wissa when he towered over Cucurella as Sanchez feared it was creeping in.

With the very last kick of the game, Palmer took possession of the ball. He turned, took aim, and curled for the top corner with his left foot. 

He fell to his knees as it narrowly landed over the crossbar, as the full-time whistle confirmed this draw.