Chelsea 2 - 1 Brentford

Chelsea took advantage of their rivals' slippage to move two points off the top of the Premier League but were made to work hard with a narrow 2-1 win at Brentford.

The Blues didn't make the same mistake as Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City who had all dropped points at home earlier in the weekend, but ended up hanging on for victory against a Bees side that didn't picked up only one away point all season.

They took a deserved lead at the break when Marc Cucurella scored his first Premier League goal for the Blues minutes before the interval, having dominated the opening half without creating much in the way clear opportunities.

Nicolas Jackson should have put the game to bed on the hour mark when he volleyed home Jadon Sancho's winning cross from six yards, without which the Blues' lead was narrow always fragile.

Brentford came so close to making them pay when the momentum started to swing and Christian Norgaard drew a brilliant header out of Robert Sanchez, before Fabio Carvalho's sliding effort bounced off the bar, not long after than a few inches from crossing the line.

Enzo Maresca's celebrations greeted Jackson's thunderous second after a quick attack against the relievers around Stamford Bridge with 10 minutes remaining as Chelsea finally gave themselves a cushion to defend.

But even then, a hospital pass from Cucurella to Moises Caicedo saw the Brentford counter finish neatly by Bryan Mbeumo, leaving the Blues to see out seven minutes of added time before they could steal a march on their title at last. rivals with influence.

Cucurella's excellent afternoon ended on a sour note after the full-time whistle when the goalie was shown a second yellow card for an altercation with Kevin Schade.

Maresca: Title winners don't concede that kind of goal

The Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca:

“No matter how many games we win, I think we are not ready to compete for the title. One of the reasons is that I think teams that have experience of winning titles don't give goals like we did.

“90th minute, our aggressive throw-in. If you don't believe me, or if you think I'm just saying it – I would like the pressure to compete. But we are not ready for many reasons, and it is one of the reasons that we cannot comply with the goal that we surrendered.

On Marc Cucurella's red card: “The second yellow card was for a bad attitude, the referee told me. When the final whistle went I was with the coaching staff celebrating, so I didn't see anything.

“He was at a high level with the other 10. They were fantastic, and we are happy with Marc's performance. At the end of the game, the game is over, we can manage the moment in an inter- different. But it's an experience for the people. Players to learn.”

Frank: Chelsea's celebrations showed we deserved a point

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank:

“We were in many ways unlucky not to get anything out of the game, at least a draw. The second half was fantastic, we were almost as lucky as one of the Premier League favourites.

“The way we did that second half was really impressive. We had two big moments, with Christian Norgaard and Fabio Carvalho – and then we put one and put pressure on him, they ended up taking short set pieces and running in the corner.

“The way they celebrated the second goal and the win, it meant a lot to them – we must have caused them a lot of trouble so I'm very pleased with my team's performance.”

Analysis: Chelsea move closer to top – but title credentials look less certain

Sky Sports' Ron Walker at Stamford Bridge:

“Chelsea succeeded where Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City had failed by winning at home, but if they had been punished by Brentford, as they were, it would have been just as self-inflicted .

“Robert Sanchez and Chelsea's centre-back options have been identified as Achilles' heels, but it was Brentford's inability to finish and the manner in which they ultimately conceded – from their own attacking play – that ' giving some credit to Enzo Maresca. prove they are not ready to challenge for the title.

“From the outside, this can be a good example of a team winning without playing well – the mark of any good team.

“But the way Chelsea allowed Brentford, a team that has lost six of seven on the road, to take control of the game out of nowhere and get inches away from getting something is another sign that maturity is still growing.

“The Blues have still come an awful long way under Maresca. Although their title rivals have all established familiar names through the spine of the team, Chelsea are still on the rise. They are getting there, but they still have a way to go. .”