Chelsea – Brentford : Preview & Prediction
The season effectively ended for Chelsea after Real Madrid knocked them out of the Champions League, extending a 100% losing start for manager Frank Lampard after four games in charge, but they have also only scored one goal in that span. All that is left for Chelsea to fight for is to avoid what would be their first bottom-half Premier League (PL) finish since the 1995/96 season, but even that is not certain, as they are five points behind another London side in 10th place and their opponents this time around, Brentford.
They say the night is always darkest before the dawn and with talks held with some big name managers, Blues fans will be hoping to compete with the big teams once next season kicks off. For now, however, Chelsea are looking to avoid losing four PL derbies in London in a season for the first time since the 2001/02 season after going down to defeat in three of their six meetings in London this campaign (G1, E2, P3).
Thomas Frank’s Brentford were unlucky not to defeat an in-form Aston Villa side at the weekend, but the Dane was nonetheless “proud of the players” after an impressive display. Despite the positive performance, that result extended the Bees’ winless run to six games (E3, P3) and leaves them six points off seventh place, the lowest possible finish for a European spot for next season.
With only six games left to play this season, improving Brentford’s solid, if uninspiring, away record in London derbies will likely be crucial to closing the gap to the top seven (G1, E2, P1). Frank’s men at least managed to score in each of those encounters, a record they will be eager to keep alive here after failing to score in over three hours of play prior to this clash.
b Chelsea have not scored fewer goals at this stage of a league season (30) since they scored 17 99 years ago, with Kai Havertz as one of 14 players to contribute to that paltry haul, scoring seven goals (23%). As for Brentford, Ivan Toney can become the first Bees player since Dave McCulloch in the 1937/38 season to score at least 20 goals in a season in the top flight should he find the opposition goal in this fixture.
Key Fact: All four previous meetings between these two managers, Frank and Lampard, have ended in goals for both teams (G1, E2, P1).
Chelsea – Brentford : Betting Tips
Chelsea – Win Odds: 1.70
