English Premier League Game-week 33 Match Previews and Analysis: Chelsea vs Brentford

Overtime Heroics Editorial

157 days ago

Barely two days after the English Premier League had a curtain draw for its’ 32^nd game-week, it comes bubbling back with action onto many screens around England, Europe and the world. And particularly so, when the drama is so much energetic.

With just six rounds to go, the atmosphere is really tense. There is so much pressure on elite teams and quotidian EPL members alike. From fighting and vying for the 31^st Premier League crown to competing for a top-four spot which would guarantee a berth in next season’s edition of the UEFA Champions League to aiming for at least top six or seven which would translate into an appearance in either the UEFA Europa League or Conference League as the case may be. There are also teams who are struggling to avoid being swept away by the relegation flood, to have least have another go at English Premier League football in the 2023/24 season.

The past weekend was eventful, action-packed and filled with a lot of drama. We saw Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal drop points for yet the third consecutive game in another unfortunate draw to bottom placed Southampton. We also saw Newcastle thrash fellow top-four contenders Tottenham 6-1 as the club moved closer to achieving their first Champions League qualification in 20 years. We saw Liverpool defeat Nottingham Forest 3-2. It was also a little less noisy as we didn’t get to see Erling Haaland and Manchester City go on another carnaged rampage, Erik Ten Hag and Manchester United, Frank Lampard and a presently distraught Chelsea side.

Chelsea vs Brentford:

This match sees Frank Lampard and his boys play hosts to Thomas Frank’s Brentford. Chelsea are unarguably in a huge team crisis this season, currently seated in eleventh where they have recorded a meagre 39 points in 31 games. With the atmosphere and situation of things at the Stamford Bridge looking unworthy of a change anytime soon, Todd Boehly’s enterprise may well be on their way to recording their worst Premier League finish since 2015/16 when the London based club finished in 10^th place with 50 points from 38 games. Characteristic of that season was wielding Jose Mourinho and the appointment of Guus Hiddink as interim manager till the end of the season, a similar managerial crisis the Blues have now endured having had to dish out sack letters to both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter. They have been managed by three coaches in total this season, the third being their legend, Lampard, and it looks as though his reign may just be the worst, having recorded all four games in charge as defeats.

The Blues have drawn up really frustrating attacking numbers and statistics in the past weeks, with the entire team having scored 13 goals in their past 21 fixtures in all competitions.

Brentford look just like the team to punish the Londoners on Wednesday night given their fine spirit only they have also been a bit sloppy of recent. The Bees sit in tenth place thanks to a couple of frustrating weeks in the Premier League stacked upon each other which have seen Thomas Frank’s side without a win in their past seven fixtures.

Chelsea vs Brentford: Last Time

Brentford

Coming off three consecutive losses in the league, The Bees managed to claim a single point at the GTech community stadium against Europe-seeking Aston Villa on Saturday. Brentford went ahead with just thirteen minutes off the clock through none other than their target-man, Ivan Toney but had to sustain a late equalizer from Aston Villa’s Luis Diaz in the 87^th minute, from an effort amidst defensive pandemonium and disorderliness.

Chelsea vs Brentford: Last Time

Chelsea

The last time the Blues were in action in the Premier League was on April 15 against Brighton. Conor Gallagher gave Frank Lampard’s side the lead inside 30 minutes, a goal which marked their first in the previous 387 minutes of EPL football. But it wasn’t a win to be celebrated for the Londoners as substitute, Danny Welbeck’s 2^nd half strike a minute from coming off the bench coupled with Enciso’s long range effort in the closing moments of the game overturned The Blues’ fate and ensured that the visitors walked away with all three points.

Chelsea vs Brentford Last Encounter:

Both sides last met in the first part of this two-phased league encounter in October during Game-week 12, playing out a goalless draw, a game in which David Raya did so well to deny the likes of Aubameyang, Pulisic and even a long-range Azpilicueta shot.

Chelsea vs Brentford Head-to-head:

Both sides have met 15 times in the past with the Blues securing wins in eight of those meetings. Brentford have prevailed five times while two clashes have ended without a winner.

Chelsea vs Brentford Key stats:

Chelsea are without a single win in their past seven games in the Premier League, having recorded five losses and two draws.

Out of five meetings in the 21^st century, Brentford have recorded only one win against The Blues, a heavy 4-1 defeat sustained under Thomas Tuchel’s watch in April 2022.

The last time Chelsea played host to Brentford was the aforementioned match which ended in the Stamford Bridge natives being thumped 4-1.

Asides the 4-1 defeat, the last time Chelsea lost to Brentford was in the First Division over 84 years ago, in February 1939, a 3-1 loss.

Brentford are also without a win in their past six Premier League fixtures having recorded three losses and three draws.

The Blues have disappointing numbers in attack this season, with 13 goals in their past 21 fixtures in all competitions. The entire team have scored just one goal in the past 469 minutes of league action and have a combined expected xG of 39.5 in the Premier League this campaign.