Brentford vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight

The Blues consolidated their place at the top of the table as the high-flying Bees came close to pulling off another shock

Tuchel on Chelsea injuries and Brentford

Chelsea held off a late onslaught from Brentford to achieve a narrow away victory on Saturday and consolidate their place at the top of the Premier League table.

Thomas Tuchel’s side had emerged as early frontrunners for the title, with confidence clearly flowing after their Champions League triumph in the spring, but they recently suffered back-to-back defeats against top teams in Man City and Juventus to somewhat lose momentum. The Blues have now responded with two straight wins, however, this victory over a spirited Brentford outfit earning Chelsea three invaluable points.

Left-back Ben Chilwell, making just his second league start of the season, fired the visitors ahead on the cusp of half-time, blasting a superb half-volley past David Raya for his third goal in as many games for club and country. Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was equally important here, however, making a string of superb saves late in the game to help his side survive the swarming Bees. The best of the lot was a stop with his face to deny Pontus Jansson, though the Senegal international then also crucially tipped over a Christian Norgaard overhead kick from close range to secure the win.

Follow all the fallout from the top-flight meeting:

Brentford vs Chelsea

• Brentford XI: Raya, Zanka, Jansson, Pinnock, Canos, Jensen, Norgaard, Onyeka, Henry, Toney, Mbeumo
• Chelsea XI: Mendy, Chilwell, Chalobah, Christensen, Sarr, Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Kante, Kovacic, Lukaku, Werner
• Chilwell smashes home half-volley on cusp of half-time to give Chelsea lead
• Chelsea surive late swarming from the Bees to escape with narrow win

[16 October 2021 18:13 · Michael Jones]

Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea

42 mins: Great defending from Sarr! It’s the first real time that Toney and Mbeumo combine as Toney flicks an aerial ball onto Mbeumo making his run through the lines. Sarr is the last defender and times his tackle perfectly to dispossess Mbeumo and knock the ball out for a throw in.

[16 October 2021 18:08 · Michael Jones]

Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea

39 mins: Chance! A long ball comes up to Lukaku who brings the ball down on the edge of the penalty area. He holds off the Brentford centre-backs to set Werner up with a chance from range but the German leans back on his shot and hits it over the crossbar!

[16 October 2021 18:07 · Michael Jones]

Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea

36 mins: Chalobah threads a a teasing ball down the inside right channel as Werner makes a run into the box. He puts on the burners to get in front of the Brentford defenders but Raya is off his line quickly to scoop up the ball as it rolls into the box.

[16 October 2021 18:05 · Michael Jones]

Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea

34 mins: Brentford have held their own so far. Chelsea have seen more possession but they’ve not done much with it. Azpilicueta plays a simple pass to Werner but Brentford’s high line catches him offside.

[16 October 2021 18:03 · Michael Jones]

Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea

31 mins: Sergi Canos is shown a yellow card for giving referee Anthony Taylor a bit of lip over a decision to award Chelsea a free kick. He joins Kovacic in the book.

[16 October 2021 17:58 · Michael Jones]

Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea

28 mins: Close! Kovacic takes a free kick for Chelsea from around 30-yards out. He doesn’t strike it all that well but gets a nice deflection off the wall that takes the ball towards the far top corner. Raya is worried about it as he comes scurrying across his goal but there’s not enough dip on the ball and it goes over the crossbar.

[16 October 2021 17:55 · Michael Jones]

Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea

26 mins: Loftus-Cheek wins Chelsea another free kick with driving run down the inside left channel. Chilwell dinks the free kick into the penalty area but Brentford clear the ball up to Toney who holds it up well and draws a foul close to the halfway line.

[16 October 2021 17:54 · Michael Jones]

Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea

23 mins: Chance! Brentford’s corner is cleared but the ball comes back into the box. A headed takes the ball into the path of Norgaard who heads it down for Mbeumo. Mbeumo whacks his shot into the ground and it bounces up and rattles into the near post!

Chelsea then break with Werner flying down the left wing. He takes the ball into the box and sends it across to Lukaku who backheels it into the back of the net only to be judged offside!

[16 October 2021 17:51 · Michael Jones]

Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea

20 mins: Brentford win a throw in on the right side. The ball comes up to Jorgensen who swings a good cross right into the middle of the box. Ivan Toney rise above everyone to win the header. He knocks it down and the ball bounces behind after a deflection from Chalobah.

[16 October 2021 17:47 · Michael Jones]

Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea

17 mins: Onyeka trips Kovacic just outside his own penalty area and leaves Chelsea with a free kick in a dangerous area. Kovacic and Lukaku stand over the dead ball. It’s Lukaku who takes it and he whips a left-footed shot around the ball but sends it wide of the near post. Not a bad effort.