Chelsea make the short trip west to the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday night to face an unbeaten Brentford side in the Premier League. Keith Andrews has picked up six points from four fixtures, a demolition of Tottenham on opening day, followed by three successive draws against Leeds United, Sunderland and Bournemouth.
Xabi Alonso comes sixth in the table but with a defence that has been permeable throughout the opening month. Chelsea have conceded at least twice in each of their first four league games, a run they have not experienced at the start of a season since 2015-16. That fragility is precisely the weakness Andrews has spent two seasons engineering his squad to punish.
Brentford’s most recent outing proved an instructive lesson, as the Bees were outshot comprehensively at Bournemouth, 20 attempts to eight, and lost the expected goals battle 2.18 to 0.50. But they took both of the big chances they created, while the hosts missed all four, a difference in finishing that saved a point on the south coast.
Kevin Schade scored both goals, while Caoimhin Kelleher made eight saves and Mamadou Sangare, the club-record signing from Lens for over £38m, had six tackles and eleven duels won.
Scout Report: What Is Brentford Like And How Do They Play?
Brentford remain the most data-driven operation in the English top flight, and Andrews is the literal embodiment of that ethos more than any of his predecessors. The Irishman was promoted from set-piece coach and led the club to a joint-best ninth-place finish on 53 points after Thomas Frank left for Tottenham in June 2025. The club rewarded him with an extension until 2032. The Bees have no European commitments to dilute their weekly preparations.
Tactically, Andrews prefers a disciplined 4-2-3-1 with a double pivot, with Vitaly Janelt and Sangare screening a back four that defends in a compact mid-block. Brentford launch the press aggressively and play man-to-man out of possession, shutting down one flank at goal kicks to force opponents long. They are overtly vertical in possession, while operating with a narrow front line that attacks flick-ons and second contacts.
The dead ball is still their signature weapon. Michael Kayode’s long throws have been a secondary corner routine, and the club has been the most prolific throw-in output in England over recent seasons. Their shot selection is just as discriminating, with the league’s best shots-on-target percentage and highest expected goals per shot last term. With Igor Thiago, who was second only to Erling Haaland in goals last season, leading the line, supported by Schade and Dango Ouattara in attack, Chelsea can expect a subdued but always dangerous host.