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After a week of European and domestic cup action, the Premier League returns to our TV screens with a west London derby as Chelsea head to Brentford. The Blues are winless in their last two outings in this competition after their well-forecast defeat by Arsenal and worrying draw with Hull last time out. Calamitous defending could be cited as the cause for both goals they conceded there, but Joao Pedro struck late to bail them out.
The Blues may not be able to call on the Brazilian at Brentford, though, after he withdrew from international duty with a suspected injury. The Bees, meanwhile, have made an odd start to the campaign. They are yet to taste defeat, but have drawn three of their four matches thus far after trouncing Tottenham on opening weekend.
This is something of a bogey ground for Chelsea - they have not won there since 2021 - and Alonso must overcome that hoodoo if he is to come away with a vital three points tonight. Follow the match LIVE below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis from Oli Gent at the Gtech Community Stadium.
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Oli Gent at the Gtech Stadium
Yarmoliuk gets away with a cynical tug on Welbeck as the Chelsea striker looks to dart towards the box, haring after the ball played through. Nothing doing, says the referee, who then finds a furious Levi Colwill in his face just seconds later.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
43mins: A Brentford attack comprising three separate shots ends with Lewis-Potter bending one into the waiting hands of Martinez.
Oli Gent at the Gtech Stadium
This west London derby - if you can really call it that - has a bit of spice to it now. Neto gets bodied by Lewis-Potter, while Andrews still fumes on the touchline. Some choice chants directed at Henderson as he saunters over to take the Chelsea corner.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
41mins: CLOSE! Schuster puts in a brave block with his chest to deny Rogers’ shot from inside the box. That may well be the best chance of the game so far.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
41mins: Chelsea look to break but the move is cut short as Neto is deemed to have fouled Lewis-Potter. The Portuguese laughs the incident off.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
39mins: Damsgaard gets the ball to feet on the edge of the area. He turns quickly and lets fly, sending his effort over the bar.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
37mins: SAVE! Yarmolyuk comes up with Brentford’s first shot on target of the evening after some quality hold-up play from Thiago. Martinez gets down quickly to deny his low-driven effort from the edge of the box.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
35mins: Rogers plays a sweet backheel pass to Welbeck, but play is pulled back as he had strayed offside. Alonso, apoplectic.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
33mins: Third time lucky for the Kayode long-throw artillery, but this is the worst of the lot. It falls into no man’s land, and Fofana beats it clear.
Oli Gent at the Gtech Stadium
Keith Andrews is in utter disbelief at some of these refereeing calls in the past couple of minutes. 'You're not fit to referee' rings around the Gtech after a dubious awarding of a free kick for Palmer after the challenge from Damsgaard and Janelt, and then calls for handball from Barco are waved away. Anthony then doesn't get the throw that he is craving off Chavarria, and 'S*** referee' breaks out in the home end.