Chelsea claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brentford to record their fifth straight Premier League win and close the gap to two points on Liverpool at the top.
Nicolas Jackson’s strike proved decisive in Sunday’s west London derby at Stamford Bridge, where Marc Cucurella was sent off after full-time.
It was Cucurella who put Chelsea in front in the 43rd minute, heading home at the end of a first half that the Blues had mostly dominated.
After squandering a golden chance to double Chelsea’s advantage on the hour, Jackson atoned with a neat finish 10 minutes from time.
Bryan Mbeumo dragged Brentford – who had earlier hit the crossbar – back into it in the final minute of normal time, but it was too little too late for the 11th-placed Bees, while Chelsea are now just two points behind Liverpool, who do have a match in hand.
(Culled from Premier League website)
