Chelsea’s wait for a first away win in eight matches has been extended following Sunday’s goalless stalemate against Brentford.
Fresh from claiming a 1-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur, the Blues made the short trip to face their city rivals on a high and had the first opportunity of the game via a set piece, but Christopher Nkunku was unable to readjust his body well enough to direct Reece James’ inviting delivery home.
Brentford would go on to have their own first sight at goal shortly afterwards as Bryan Mbeumo found Yoanne Wissa, who could only find the side netting having done well initially to make contact with the ball.
In stark contrast to many Brentford home games this season, what followed was a drab period of the contest as neither team was able to string together any sustained attacking pressure.
Mikkel Damsgaard had the game’s next effort from a free kick, and the Dane was soon presented with a glorious opportunity moments later but lost his footing at the crucial point.
Having had a relatively quiet opening half hour, Bryan Mbeumo came to life in the 31st minute when he skipped past James before sending an effort just past the near post.
One of five changes made to the Chelsea XI, Noni Madueke called Mark Flekken into action 11 minutes from the interval, after which Keane Lewis-Porter rose highest to meet an Mbeumo corner and force a decent save from Sanchez.
Like the first half started, it ended with another dangerous delivery from the Chelsea skipper, who found Tosin Adarabioyo this time around, although the defender was unable to make proper contact with the ball.
Off the back of a pedestrian first-half performance, Christopher Nkunku was unsurprisingly substituted off with Jackson coming on for his second appearance since returning from injury.
Jackson wasted no time posing problems to the Brentford defence as his run in behind was located by Enzo Fernandez, but the Senegalese striker dragged his attempt wide of the mark.
Fernandez turned provider for Chelsea again 10 minutes into the second period from a corner which Trevoh Chalobah diverted well off the target.
Needing more from his side offensively, Enzo Maresca sent on Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto, and both men had decent sights of goal within five minutes of their introduction.
That continued a sustained period of pressure for Chelsea, who were increasingly looking the likelier of the two sides to break the deadlock.
However, the Blues were nearly caught on the break just shy of the 80th-minute mark, with Mbeumo forcing Sanchez into action.
From the resulting corner, Sepp Van den Berg inexplicably fluffed Brentford’s best chance of the afternoon, which preceded another opportunity for Wissa.
Neither team was able to fashion any clear-cut chance in the remainder of the contest, leading to a share of the spoils in West London.
Albeit with a game in hand, Chelsea have extended their lead over Manchester City to two points ahead of a mouth-watering Manchester derby later today.
