Brentford vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result, latest updates and reaction | OneFootball

Maresca’s decision to rotate heavily does not pay off

Reinforcements: Cole Palmer has been introduced for Chelsea

Action Images via Reuters

Brentford vs Chelsea - LIVE!

Chelsea dropped two points in the race to secure Champions League qualification as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Brentford. With this match coming not even 72 hours after the midweek win over Tottenham, Enzo Maresca was expected to make changes but the team news did still come as a surprise.

Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Levi Colwill were among those to drop to the bench, as the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were handed rare starts. The best chances in the match fell Brentford’s way, Mikkel Damsgaard threatening in the opening period and Sepp van den Berg somehow heading into the ground and over the bar in the second-half, as Chelsea largely struggled.

Nicolas Jackson was introduced at half-time and offered more of a threat, but Cole Palmer’s arrival on the hour mark had little impact on the whole. He did, though, have an opportunity to snatch with the final victory, only to curl an effort just over the bar.