Brentford and Chelsea were evenly matched in a 0-0 west London derby draw far more entertaining than its scoreline suggests.
After making five changes to his starting XI and with Thomas Frank reverting to the familiar five-man defence he favours for the visits of big clubs, Graham Potter found his Chelsea players under hefty pressure early on.
Ivan Toney was a softer touch away from a clear opening on Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goal before Brentford’s trio of back-to-back corners and a penalty appeal were rebuffed.
Chelsea lost Conor Gallagher to an early illness issue and came into the game more with Mateo Kovacic’s forced introduction, Armando Broja on his start for the club coming within centimetres of connecting with Cesar Azpilicueta’s fine cross.
Wide balls into the box were causing problems for both teams and Toney forced Kepa into a smart close-range parry after producing a back-header from Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s errant clearance that landed by his own six-yard box.
Up the other end, Broja led the line expertly as the visitors came back into the match, dancing through Ben Mee’s challenge to cross for a Kai Havertz run that would have put them a goal up - had he actually made it to tap home from close range.
Brentford came out the blocks quicker after the break, Bryan Mbeumo failing to convert a golden opportunity from Mads Roerslev’s cross. Kepa was grateful to receive his close-range, unmarked nod right in his palms with the rest of the goal gaping.
On the hour mark, Graham Potter rolled the dice with the triple introductions of Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic and Carney Chukwuemeka - taking off Broja and leaving Havertz on while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remained sat on the bench.
Havertz fired a rare Chelsea shot on target for before Mbeumo’s audacious lob from the halfway line was plucked by Kepa.
Better chances were to come for both teams. Toney broke the visitors’ line but found Kepa smothering his one-on-one attempt before Chelsea broke, Aubameyang off the bench to slide in Sterling only for an expert Ethan Pinnock tackle to deny the winger from close range.
The point kept the Blues in fourth place of the Premier League table, Brentford staying ninth.
