EPL: Chelsea Fails to Capitalize on Tottenham Win, Held to Draw by Brentford

Chelsea misses a huge chance to cement their spot inside the Premier League top four after being held to a 0-0 draw away to Brentford.

Chelsea missed an opportunity to solidify their position within the Premier League top four after being held to a 0-0 draw away to Brentford. The Blues had a significant chance to build on their impressive win against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night, but manager Enzo Maresca opted to make changes to his lineup. With a UEFA Conference League quarter-final approaching, Chelsea had several regular starters on the bench, which may have contributed to the subdued start.

The early stages of the match saw Chelsea create the most promising opportunity, but Christopher Nkunku failed to capitalize on an unmarked header inside the penalty area, heading the ball wide. 

The opening quarter of the game was relatively uneventful, with Brentford adopting a defensive approach and waiting for Chelsea to make a mistake. Despite having chances, Brentford's players, including Kristoffer Ajer, Yoane Wissa, and Mikkel Damsgaard, failed to take advantage of half-chances, reflecting the overall lack of productivity in the first half.

Chelsea fans ironically chanted “we've had a shot” before half-time, highlighting the lack of scoring opportunities for both teams. With a top-four spot at stake, Chelsea couldn't afford to slip up, and manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged this by making changes to his lineup. He introduced Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto on the hour mark, and Palmer nearly made an instant impact with a curling effort that Mark Flekken smartly stopped.

As the game progressed, Brentford's need for a winner diminished, but they continued to probe for a breakthrough. They came close when Kevin Schade flashed an effort across the face of goal. 

A first home clean sheet of the season for @BrentfordFC as they hold @ChelseaFC to a goalless draw 🤝#BRECHE pic.twitter.com/TPysBeeg4K

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 6, 2025

However, it was Brentford who were pushing forward and creating chances, with Bryan Mbeumo forcing a fine save from Robert Sanchez and Yoane Wissa heading narrowly wide. Despite these opportunities, neither team could find a late winner, and the game drifted towards a 0-0 draw.

The draw extended Chelsea's historical run of not losing to Brentford at home since 1938, but the match itself was unremarkable and unlikely to be remembered for long. The lack of scoring chances and the overall pace of the game contributed to its forgettable nature.