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2023/24 English Premier League
Matchday 10
Chelsea v Brentford
Stamford Bridge
London, England
Saturday, 28 October 2023
Kick-off is at 13h30
Chelsea will be targeting only their second
Premier League win against Brentford when the two teams clash in a West London derby at Stamford Bridge in the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday, October 28.
The Blues finally appear to be making strides under Mauricio Pochettino after they held high-flying Arsenal to a 2-2 draw at home on October 21 to go three games unbeaten in the league.
Pochettino's side had won their previous two matches against Fulham (2-0) and Burnley (4-1) and the point they earned in the stalemate with the Gunners took them into the top half of the table in 10th position.
The five-time Premier League winners are still eight points adrift of the UEFA Champions League places, but they gained ground on Brighton (7th) and West Ham (9th), who both suffered defeats last time out.
Alamy Stock Photo
The Bees arrested a worrying run of six games without a win when they beat Burnley 3-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium on October 21.
It was only their second victory of the season - a first on home soil - to lift Thomas Frank's side up to 14th spot, six points clear of the relegation zone.
They profited from Nottingham Forest (15th), Everton (16th), Luton (17th), Bournemouth (19th) and Sheffield United (20th) all failing to picks up wins on matchday 9.
The acquisition of Cole Palmer from Manchester City seems to have been a good bit of business for Chelsea after the midfielder scored for the second game in succession. The 21-year-old's influence on the team is growing with each passing game and he could well go on to be one of the signings of the season.
Bryan Mbeumo is proving his importance to Brentford in the absence of Ivan Toney, who is serving an eight-month suspension for betting violations. The Cameroon star had a superb game against the Clarets, setting up Yoane Wissa for the opener on 25 minutes before capping off a swift team move with an exquisite finish on 62 minutes.
Pochettino took heart from the performance of his players against one of the title contenders, but admits their decision-making can improve after conceding two goals in the final 23 minutes.
"We are maybe at the beginning of our project and that is why we have to take positive things," the Argentine said. "I think we competed really well and after 77 minutes of the game, we had been better and hadn't conceded too many chances.
"That is credit to the team and we need to only go forward in a positive way. One thing for us is to maybe read the situation better.
"At 2-0 in the 77th minute, maybe take a better decision in this situation to not concede in the way we did. That damaged the momentum a little bit and gave the belief to the opponent to say: 'go on, it's possible, it's only one goal'."
Frank hailed the chemistry of Mbeumo, Wissa and Neal Maupay in attack after the trio combined to good effect for the opening goal, while the Frenchman teed up with Cameroonian for their second.
"The front three looked very sharp and good together," the Dane said. "The first goal was fantastic: we win it back high, Neal plays Bryan, then under to Wissa who scores.
"The second goal was also a fantastic goal, and then the third goal from Saman [Ghoddos] was goal of the day."
Head-to-Head (Previous Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 4
Chelsea - 1
Brentford - 2
Draws - 1
Premier League Matchday 10 fixtures:
Friday, October 27
21h00: Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday, October 28
13h30: Chelsea v Brentford
16h00: Bournemouth v Burnley
16h00: Arsenal v Sheffield United
18h30: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle United
Sunday, October 29
15h00: West Ham United v Everton
16h00: Aston Villa v Luton Town
16h00: Brighton & Hove Albion v Fulham
16h00: Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
17h30: Manchester United v Manchester City
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