Chelsea laboured to a 0-0 stalemate to share the spoils with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Blues failed to produce the buzzing performance needed to see off the Bees, who never looked likely to be stung by Graham Potter’s men.
It was clear that it wouldn’t be plain sailing for the Pensioners from the off, with the visitors having to weather an early swarm from Thomas Frank’s side with Kepa Arrizabalaga largely to thank for keeping parity in the scoreline. A long-range drive from Cesar Azpilicueta and the persistence of Armando Broja was the most Chelsea had to show for their efforts in the first period.
Potter had seen his side slowly grow into the game and gain a foothold, but a serious hivemind was needed at the interval to work out a path to victory.
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That path presented itself very late in proceedings, with David Raya denying Carney Chukwuemeka from close range. Otherwise it was Brentford who went closest, with Bryan Mbeumo missing what amounted to a sitter when gifted a header from a matter of mere yards.
Many of the same problems persisted from the Aston Villa win and Potter will have to work his magic fast with Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United visiting Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Here is how Absolute Chelsea rated the players' performance against Brentford.
Kepa Arrizabalaga - 9/10
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Showered with praise in all quarters for his coming out performance against Aston Villa at the weekend and the heroics continued here. Some smart saves in the first-half proved vital in the final analysis, keeping the Blues in the game. Proving his pedigree while his peers prove toothless.
Trevoh Chalobah - 7/10
Not the easiest of assignments up against an attack of great vim and vigour, and yet he proved peerless and dependable once again, standing head and shoulders above many of his more experienced teammates.
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Kalidou Koulibaly - 6/10
Moments of rash and reckless madness were counter-weighted by some excellent, alert defending in moments of extreme pressure. Some important blocks and last-ditch tackles added gloss to flappy periods of uncertainty. A real mixed bag of a performance.
Cesar Azpilicueta - 6/10
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Chelsea’s skipper was also one of their better players in the first half, looking to make things happen and making some positive driving runs down the right flank. His second-half performance was altogether more patchy, though. Needed bailing out by his younger peer Chalobah and compatriot Kepa at different points, but he did have his moments of veteran awareness and wily defending.
Marc Cucurella - 4/10 (61)
The Spaniard’s form has taken a dip, ironically since Graham Potter has come in and joined up with the former Brighton man who was his player of the season last campaign. More of the same can be said here, with his defensive judgement found wanting on a fair few occasions and his attacking contribution being of detriment more than anything else. He left acres of the Brentford Community Stadium vacated in the pockets behind him.
Jorginho - 6/10
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Mostly fine in the centre of the park, but a grand sum of zero of his more creative ideas paid off. Exposed early on by the hosts’ physicality, but better as the game wore on.
Conor Gallagher - 5/10 (15)
Never got going before he was hooked early by virtue of an injury. Energetic but unexerting of control.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 5/10
Tough time of it defending against a spritely Brentford flank of Bryan Mbeumo and Rico Henry, and his attacking output wasn’t much better either. Very much a victim of Chelsea’s poor injury record at current by virtue of his versatility and form coming into this fixture.
Mason Mount - 6/10 (61)
Some nice ideas and neat patterns of play from a man who looks rejuvenated under the stewardship of a new manager, yet he never really took the game by the scruff of its neck in the same way that he did against Aston Villa at the weekend.
Armando Broja - 7/10 (61)
The Albanian scooped his first start for the Blues and it was a raw performance from a raw talent. He showed sheer tenacity in his explosiveness and work rate at the spearhead of the Chelsea attack, recovering the ball high up the pitch and injecting some panic in Brentford’s defensive unit. His decision-making requires improvement, but will come with time.
Kai Havertz - 3/10 (81)
Inexplicably poor on the evening. The German was where Chelsea’s attacks went to die, his touch eluding him far too often and physically proving no match for the Bees backline - a damning indictment in comparison to colleague Broja’s efforts. Mystifying he remained on the pitch as long as he did. As useless as a chocolate fireguard.
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Mateo Kovacic - 6/10 (15)
No secret that things improved for Chelsea upon his introduction. Impressed some element of solidity to the engine room, although he was at pains to find meaningful activity ahead of him in the face of Brentford’s deep line.
Raheem Sterling - 5/10 (61)
Brought some directness to the play, but the former Manchester City stalwart looks short on bright ideas and is too often lacking in cutting edge and quality to make the impact he should.
Carney Chukwuemeka - 7/10 (61)
Bright as a button and not afraid to carry the ball for long distances at pace. Injected some impetus into a pretty limp and lifeless team performance.
Christian Pulisic - 7/10 (61)
Similarly to Chukwuemeka, the American showed confidence in his desire to drive at the Brentford backline and certainly showed more about his game than some who get the nod over him persistently.
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang - N/A (81)
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Chelsea, Brentford, Premier League, Football
