Brentford or Chelsea could have won it, but neither did and neither really deserved to either

Brentford v Chelsea Picture by Paul Lagan

brsnrtttnBy Paul Lagan at Gtech Community Stadium

Brentford 0 v Chelsea 0

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Neither side deserved to lose, and they didn't – a 0-0 at the Gtech Stadium just about summed up a game, that promised to be a football match, but instead became more like a pre-season friendly.

Make no mistake, both sides wanted to win, but it just wasn't in their legs to make it happen.

Chelsea fans were unhappy with their players first-half performance which was bereft of serious attacking intent.

When Nicolas Jackson was brought in at half-time, a few more route one balls were introduced to their armoury and the Blues could have nicked a goal early on.

Brentford could and should have scored a couple themselves when in ascendency.

Both the goalkeepers were in top form – and that ultimately explains the result.

Chelsea stay fourth in the league while the Bees are 12th.

There were chances for both sides in the opening couple of minutes, both failed to have that clinical edge need to turn the chances into goals.

Set piece moves seemed destined to be the deciding factor, and a lovely corner by the Bees on 15 minutes, almost yielded success, but the ball was cleared away in the last second.

On 20 minutes a quick break on the left by the home side saw Kevin Schade cut the ball across the edge of the Chelsea area, Yoane Wissa tried a first-time left footer, but it was blocked, despite goal-bound.

Malo Gusto gave away a needless free kick on the edge of his area, on 27 minutes – Mikkel Damsgaard was inches over the crossbar from the following kick.

Robert Sanchez was called I to action a minute later, doing well to block a goal-bound left-footer from Schade.

Bryan Mbeumo had the next effort as Brentford peppered the Chelsea goal, but his left-footer from the edge of the box went inches wide.

Chelsea's first effort on goal followed their fans demand for 'attack attack, attack' saw Noni try his luck. Mark Flekken snaffled the effort.

The increasingly frustrated Chelsea fans, then shouted, “We've had a shot...”

Sanchez then parried away an unchallenged header from a corner by Nathan Collins.

Chelsea replaced ineffectual Christopher Nkunku with Nicolas Jackson at half-time, Brentford remained the same.

The first effort went to the Blues from a long ball to Jackson. He had the pace to beat the Brentford back four, but not the accuracy with bis shot which went wide on 50 minutes.

Chelsea almost went ahead when Sepp Van Den Berg saw the ball bounce off him – thankfully an own-goal was averted when Flekken was able to parry the ball clear.

To try and consolidate that position, Cole Palmer and Neto were brought on, on 58 minutes – off went Noni and Dewsbury Hall.

Neto, after two minutes on being on the pitch forced a great save from Flekken – his left footer was parried away for a corner.

He followed that up with another powerful shot, which Flekken was again equal to.

Reece James, then had a free header saved by Flekken as the Blues finally found some consistent attack flare.

Brentford's first change came soon after – on came Vitaly Janelt, off went Yehor Yarmoliuk on 64 minutes.

James's day ended on 76 minutes when he was replaced by Marc Cucurella.

A great breakaway by Brentford Sanchez produce a good save to thwart Mbeumo on 10 minutes left on the clock. But a minute late Van Den Berg missed a sitter when his header bounced off the pitch and over an open goal.

The momentum switch to the home side was profound.

Michael Kayode and Mathias Jensen came on for the Bees.

Enzo had a couple of weak efforts as both side at least went for the winner.

Teams: Brentford: Flekken, Van Den Berg, Norgaard, Schade, Wissa, Yarmoliuk, Mbeumo, Ajer, Collins, Lewis-Porter, Damsgaard

Subs: Valdimarsson, Henry, Pinnock, Jensen, Mee, Konak, Janelt, Maghoma, Kayode

Chelsea: Sanchez, Tosin, Enzo, Noni, Nkunku, Sancho, Dewsbury-Hall, Chalobah, James, Caicedo, Gusto

Referee: Michael Oliver