A late goal from Alex Disasi saw Chelsea rescue a point from the jaws of defeat at Brentford, drawing 2-2. The Bees beat the Blues in October and nearly did the double on Saturday but for Disasi’s header.
Brentford were in bad shape leading up to the clash. Thomas Frank’s men were losing games on a regular basis, so Chelsea were favourites to come out on top given their superior form.
Brentford got off to a bad start
Yoane Wissa nearly opened the scoring for Brentford, side-footing wide of the post after being picked out on the right. Wissa couldn’t find the target and Chelsea would punish their wastefulness in the 35th minute through Nicolas Jackson.
Jackson previously fluffed his lines, having a tame effort cleared off the line after rounding the goalkeeper, but he made up for the miss. The 22-year-old opened the scoring with a fierce header past Mark Flekken, rising highest to a Malo Gusto cross.
Chelsea went into the break level, but Brentford responded not long after the restart. Mads Roerslev equalised for the hosts after Chelsea failed to clear their lines in the area. Malo Gusto and Moises Caicedo will feel they should have done better in the build-up.
Chelsea only had themselves to blame
Chelsea continued to make mistakes at the back, gifting Brentford a chance to take the lead. Fortunately for Chelsea, Vitaly Janel hit the post with a low drive, but Pochettino’s men didn’t heed the warning. Cole Palmer should have made it 2-1 to Chelsea following a swift counter-attack, but he missed the target.
It was Brentford’s turn to punish Chelsea, doing so in the 69th minute through a brilliant Wissa goal. The ball wasn’t cleared in the area and bounced towards Wissa who scored with an overhead kick. Brentford then came close to doubling their lead when Sergio Reguilon struck the woodwork with a header.
Chelsea fought back, however, and found a leveller in the 83rd minute. Palmer whipped in a cross that Disasi headed home and it secured a point for the visitors.
Far from a vintage showing, but Pochettino will be impressed by his side’s comeback.
