Brentford 0-1 Chelsea: Chilwell's winner helps Blues get back to EPL top

Ben Chilwell's first-half strike sent Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Brentford, thanks in large part to Edouard Mendy's late heroics.

Match Report

Bryan Mbeumo hit the post for Brentford in the first half, while Timo Werner missed two fine chances for the visitors, but Chelsea went into the break ahead through Chilwell's half volley from just inside the area (45), his third goal in three games for club and country.

Mbeumo hit the post again in the second half before Mendy saved brilliantly three times late on, first from sub Saman Ghoddos, then with his face from Pontus Jansson at point-blank range, before tipping over Christian Norgaard's stunning overhead kick in stoppage time.

After wins for Liverpool and Man City earlier on Saturday, the pressure was on Chelsea to keep up the pace in what promises to be a tight title race, and they returned to the top of the pile with their sixth win of the season.

Brentford lost for just the second time this term, and are seventh after eight games.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

17' Lukaku's free-kick wide out

17' Yellow Card! Kovacic booked

21' OFFSIDE! Lukaku's goal disallowed

21' OFF THE POST! Mbeumo nearly scores

36' MISS! Werner's shot wide out

44' GOAL! Brentford 0-1 Chelsea (Chilwell)

68' CLOSE! Ivan Toney misses a good chance

69' MISS! Lukaku's shot wide out

73' CLOSE! Ivan Toney's shot saved by Mendy

75' OFF THE POST! Mbeumo nearly scores again

85' SAVE! Fine stop from Mendy

Line-ups

Brentford XI: Jorgensen, P. Jansson, C. Nørgaard, I. Toney, Sergi Canós, David Raya, R. Henry, M. Jensen, E. Pinnock, F. Onyeka, B. Mbeumo

Subs: S. Ghoddos, K. Ajer, C. Goode, M. Forss, Álvaro Fernández, M. Rasmussen, P. Maghoma, D. Thompson, M. Bidstrup

Chelsea XI: Azpilicueta, Lukaku, Kovacic, Christensen, E. Mendy, Kante, Werner, Loftus-Cheek, T. Chalobah, Chilwell, Sarr

Subs: Alonso, Saul , Barkley, Jorginho, Kepa, Mount, Havertz, Reece James, Hudson-Odoi