Kepa the star again as goal-shy Chelsea eek out 0-0 draw against Brentford

By Paul Lagan at Gtech Community Stadium

Brentford 0 v Chelsea 0

Well a point is better than none, and Chelsea will be grateful for the performance of the stopper Kepa who produced a couple of wonderful saves to halt the charge of their west London rivals Brentford in a disappointing 0-0 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium tonight.

The cheers from the home fans at the point suggests they will be the happier of the two sets of supporters. In truth, the Bees should have taken all three points.

The Blues dominated the final 10 minutes and Kepa’s opposite David Raya can be pleased with his shot stopping.

Kepa was called into action on 10 minutes and he started as he left off at Villa Park at the weekend, full of athleticism as he parried over the crossbar a powerful Ivan Toney header.

The Blues looked susceptible at the back when concerted pressure is applied and in the opening phase of the game, they held on well.

The home fans were baying for a penalty as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Bryan Mbeumo came together just inside the Chelsea area.

VAR decided that Mbeumo made the most of the opportunity and justifiably wasn’t rewarded.

Conor Gallagher lasted four more minutes on the pitch having suffered a bout of sickness that must make him a doubt for Saturday's home match against Manchester United. On came Mateo Kovacic.

Armando Broja got close to a deep cross, but failed to get sufficient purchase on the ball, and his header, more of a hair-der zipped across Brentford’s six-yard box and away from Raya.

Again Kepa kept the Blues in the game as Ivan Toney stole in late and flicked a deft header goalwards from close-range.

But the Spain international knows how to tip the ball over the crossbar and he was at it again, denying the striker a golden chance on 34 minutes.

At the other end, Chelsea had their first shot on goal - Cesar Azplicueta tried his luck from range, David Raya was equal to it, flicking the ball away from goal.

There were no changes by either side at half-time.

Yep, it was that man Kepa again on 51 minutes, when somehow, he managed to get low to a Bryan Mbeumo header after Azpilicueta misjudged a byline cross from the right.

Graham Potter, the Chelsea head coach could not in all honesty see the Blues make a breakthrough and so opted to change things with the introduction of subs - on came Carney Chukwuemeka, Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling - off trudged Marc Cucurella, Mount and Broja.

Kai Havertz produced a thunderbolt of a right-footer on 69 minutes. Raya punched the goal-bound effort clear.

Potter decided to bring on star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a disappointing Havertz with 10 minutes left.

Chelsea dominated for the first time in the game in the final few minutes, Pulisic copying Havertz with a fine shot on target. Raya took no chances and parried the ball clear.

That’s five games in a row that Chelsea have kept a clean sheet.

Up next is a visit from Manchester United to the Bridge on Saturday.

Teams: Brentford, Raya, Henry, Pinnock, Jensen, Zanka, Onyeka, Mee, Toney, Mbeumo, Janelt, Roerslev

Subs: Cox, Canas, Dasilva, Wissa, Ghoddos, Ajer, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Baptiste

Chelsea: Kepa, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Broja, Mount, Gallagher, Koulibaly, Azpilicueta, Havertz, Cucurella

Sub; Mendy, Silva, Kovacic, Aubameyang, Pulisic, Sterling, Zakaria, Ziyech, Chukwuemeka

Referee: Jarred Gillett