Date: Saturday 28th
October 2023
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 12:30 BST
Chelsea play their 1,200th Premier League game today in the early kick-off,
at home to Brentford.
Much was made about Arsenal being poor last weekend, with very little
said about the fact they were battered by our midfield which might have
explained their ‘poor’ performance. It was a frustrating one given at 2-0 they
didn’t look like they had a hope of getting past us – until Sanchez showed his
benevolent side. Declan Rice, who’d had absolutely no joy against us all game,
must have thought it was his birthday. That mistake, and the substitutions, disrupted
the momentum for them to get a point. Title contenders? I don’t think so.
Onto the lunchtime kick-off then and today’s visitors also find us fairly
generous opposition, with 2 wins and a draw from our last 3
meetings. Whilst our point
last weekend lifted us to the dizzy heights of 10th in the table, the
Bees sit in 14th coming into today’s game but they do come into it
off the back of a 3-0 win against Burnley last weekend to end a run
of six Premier League games without a win.
Disappointment aside, there were plenty of positives for us to take from
the game last weekend. Individual and team performances are coming along
nicely, we just need to sustain them for 90 minutes. We could do with
maintaining that momentum this afternoon and if we could manage it without
dishing out any gifts, that would be greatly appreciated.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, says “Attitude is the
most important thing. Without the right attitude it is impossible to perform.
The whole team is showing great attitude. It is really important, we need to create
a run at home and start to win. We need to start to project the image that we
are solid and consistent in front of our fans. We are desperate to show them we
can get the three points at home. We are
building a strong team, the mentality is there, is much, much better than at
the start. We are happy with the way we are evolving from day one but we are
still far away from what we expect from our team and from us. We are Chelsea and we know our
responsibilities are massive – it is to win.”
Brentford manager, Thomas Frank,
meanwhile, says “He
(Pochettino) has done fantastically his whole coaching career. He knows what it takes
to build a club to a high level; you can see them moulding more and more
together. They have so much pace on the counters, and we have to stop crosses
from the side. Chelsea look really promising. The players they have are very
high quality. Their talent and potential is really exciting. I can see this
squad competing in two years, or maybe earlier depending on how their
development goes.
It’s no secret that, when we can, we want to go high in the pressure
against Chelsea. We’ll do that every time we can against any opponent. Then we need to be
aware of the ball in behind, but I think that’s a front-footed and very brave
mindset to the game. It was a good win (against Burnley), and an important win,
and a nice reminder that we are still a good team. We believe in ourselves and
know we are a good team; we know we can create trouble for any team in this
division. We need to bring that confidence and belief into the game against
Chelsea.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea,
Wesley Fofana (knee), Christopher Nkunku (knee), Romeo Lavia (ankle), Ben
Chilwell (Hamstring), Armando Broja (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (hamstring), and Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) are all
injured. Axel Disasi (thigh), Nicolas Jackson (wrist) and Reece James are all
available but unlikely starters.
For Brentford,
Rico Henry, Mikkel Damsgaard (both knee), Kevin Schade (groin), Josha Dasilva
(hamstring), Shandon Baptiste (shoulder), and Keane Lewis-Potter (calf) are
injured. Ivan Toney, obviously, remains on gardening leave but Aaron Hickey is
available again after a one-match ban. Ben Mee it also available again.
.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; Cucurella, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez,
Gallagher; Palmer, Sterling, Mudryk
BRENTFORD (Possible line-up): Flekken; Collins, Mee, Pinnock; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt,
Hickey; Mbeumo, Wissa
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 0-2 Brentford
(26th April 2023)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: LDLWWD
BRENTFORD: DLLDLW
OTHER STUFF
- Brentford have won the last 2 meetings at Stamford
Bridge.
- Chelsea’s win against Luton in August is their only
victory in their previous 12 at home in the league.
- Both of Brentford’s league wins this season have
come in west London.
- Chelsea have won just two of their last 12 Premier
League London derbies.
- Brentford are unbeaten in their last 12 London
derbies in the league.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-1 Brentford
