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By Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport
Last updated on 16 minutes ago.From the section Premier League
Ben Chilwell has scored in each of his last three Premier League games for Chelsea, as many as he had in his previous 33 appearances in the competitionChelsea returned to the top of the Premier League as Ben Chilwell's strike - and some strong work to hold off intense late pressure - clinched victory at west London neighbours Brentford.
After Liverpool had gone top by thrashing Watford earlier on Saturday, Thomas Tuchel's side responded in the late game with a mature and dogged display against their promoted hosts.
England left-back Chilwell scored in the final minute of the first half with his third goal in three games for club and country.
The European champions dominated the first half but had to dig deep to secure the three points in the first league meeting between the two clubs in 74 years.
The outcome would have been different had Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo scored instead of twice hitting the Blues woodwork either side of Chilwell's winner.
In a frantic final 15 minutes where Brentford threw everything at their opponents, Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy had to make two important and brave saves, while Blues league debutant Malang Sarr also cleared off the line.
Senegal international Mendy also tipped over an acrobatic effort from Bees midfielder Christian Norgaard in injury-time, sealing a victory which the Blues keeper celebrated wildly with his team-mates at the final whistle, while the relieved away fans sang their delight.
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Brentford
Squad number1Player nameRaya
Squad number22Player nameM Jorgensen
Squad number18Player nameJansson
Squad number5Player namePinnock
Squad number7Player nameCanós
Squad number15Player nameOnyeka
Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
Squad number8Player nameJensen
Squad number3Player nameHenry
Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
Squad number17Player nameToney
Squad number9Player nameForss
Squad number14Player nameGhoddos
Chelsea
Squad number16Player nameMendy
Squad number14Player nameChalobah
Squad number4Player nameChristensen
Squad number31Player nameSarr
Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Squad number7Player nameKanté
Squad number12Player nameLoftus-Cheek
Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number21Player nameChilwell
Squad number11Player nameWerner
Squad number9Player nameLukaku
Squad number19Player nameMount
Squad number24Player nameJames
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Raya
- 22M Jorgensen
- 18Jansson
- 5Pinnock
- 7CanósBooked at 32minsSubstituted forGhoddosat 72'minutes
- 15OnyekaSubstituted forForssat 67'minutes
- 6Nørgaard
- 8Jensen
- 3Henry
- 19Mbeumo
- 17Toney
Substitutes
- 2Thompson
- 4Goode
- 9Forss
- 14Ghoddos
- 20Ajer
- 28Bidstrup
- 30Roerslev
- 33Maghoma
- 40Fernández
Chelsea
Formation 3-5-2
- 16Mendy
- 14Chalobah
- 4Christensen
- 31Sarr
- 28AzpilicuetaSubstituted forJamesat 89'minutes
- 7Kanté
- 12Loftus-Cheek
- 8KovacicBooked at 18minsSubstituted forMountat 65'minutes
- 21Chilwell
- 11Werner
- 9LukakuSubstituted forHavertzat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 3Alonso
- 5Jorginho
- 17Saúl
- 18Barkley
- 19Mount
- 20Hudson-Odoi
- 24James
- 29Havertz
Live Text
Match ends, Brentford 0, Chelsea 1.
Second Half ends, Brentford 0, Chelsea 1.
Attempt blocked. Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Saman Ghoddos (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mathias Jensen with a cross.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Édouard Mendy.
Attempt saved. Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Zanka with a headed pass.
Reece James (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Christian Nørgaard (Brentford).
Substitution, Chelsea. Reece James replaces César Azpilicueta.
Attempt missed. Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Attempt saved. Pontus Jansson (Brentford) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ethan Pinnock with a headed pass.
Attempt blocked. Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Rico Henry with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Saman Ghoddos (Brentford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Saman Ghoddos (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Marcus Forss (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Timo Werner (Chelsea).
Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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