A resilient Chelsea moved within two points of leaders Liverpool on Sunday after goals from Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson secured a 2-1 victory over neighbors Brentford, their fifth Premier League victory in a row.
Chelsea pushed Brentford away from the start after 15 attempts at goal in the first half, but it was in the 43rd minute that Cucurella ran into the box and leaped athletically to head Noni Madueke’s cross past goalkeeper Mark Flekken. It was the Spanish defender’s first Premier League goal for Chelsea.
However, his triumphant evening was marred after the full-time whistle when he received a second yellow card for pushing Kevin Schade.
Ten minutes from time, Jackson slotted the ball into the near post and scored his ninth Premier League goal of the season after converting a pass from Enzo Fernandez.
Jackson said the players listened to their manager and followed his game plan.
“We did it. It was more difficult at the end because they wanted to score again,” said the striker.
Jackson’s goal gave Chelsea a much-needed advantage after Brentford came out fighting in a breathtaking second half, quickly transitioning from last-minute defending to dangerous breaks down the pitch.
Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Keane Lewis-Potter caused awkward moments for Chelsea’s defense and in the 73rd minute, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made a spectacular save from Christian Norgaard before his shot went over the crossbar.
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Three minutes later, substitute Fabio Carvalho’s shot hit the underside of Sanchez’s crossbar and bounced just short of the goal line.
“Our second half was fantastic and I think we were a bit unlucky not to get something out of it,” Brentford coach Thomas Frank told reporters.
Brentford, whose Premier League tally of 32 goals is second only to Chelsea’s 37 goals, finally got on the scoresheet when the ever-busy Mbeumo scored in the last minute of regular time to put Chelsea now four points ahead of Arsenal third in the table, nervous end.
While Stamford Bridge fans celebrated the victory, Cucurella was comforted by his teammates as he left the pitch.
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca reiterated that he does not believe his team should be considered Premier League title contenders because their rival has too much experience.
“No matter how many games we win, I don’t think we’re ready,” he said.
“One of the reasons is that I think the teams know how to compete for titles. They are not going to concede goals like we did… We cannot admit how we did it and open the game and give them a chance,” he added.
He said fans may dream of a title, but: “If you ask me, I’ll tell you what I think. In my opinion, we are not ready, but we are happy that the fans can dream.
