Another trip to Stamford Bridge and another win for Brentford. Last season’s 4-1 trashing of Chelsea was followed up on Wednesday night with a phenomenal 2-0 win for The Bees.

Phenomenal, in that the hosts enjoyed 73% possession all game. In that they had 15 shots (apparently). In that they cost in excess of £600m to put together, with only three of their starting XI remaining from our previous visit. Conversely, Brentford’s team of largely Championship-raised players ended the night with only one shot on target. Phenomenal indeed.

As we’ve said so many times before, it’s not reputations. Not how long you have the ball. Not how many times you shoot (just look at Aston Villa on Saturday) that the history books will record. It comes down to what you do with it and how many times you find the back of the net. Stats, eh?

Here are some more stats. Every game since his second coming has ended in defeat for Frank Lampard’s Chelsea. They’ve only scored one goal since Graham Potter was relieved of his duties. The gap between Chelsea and the relegation spots (10 points) is half that separating them from the Champions League (20 points). Brentford top the West London mini league and are now eight clear of the Blues with just five top flight fixtures remaining this season. Don’t @me – it’s all facts.

If there is anything for Chelsea to remain positive about – beyond that the campaign can’t end quickly enough – then perhaps they can take solace in their socks. Was I alone in thinking the two tone horizontal stripes across the middle of the otherwise all white were absolute class? Still, when the only positive thing to say bout the opposition is the quality of their footwear then you know there’s something really rotten playing out.

Still, that’s their problem and we digress.

As ever. We’re here to talk about Brentford and they were magnificent. A return to three centre backs saw Zanka slot in alongside Ethan Pinnock and Ben Mee. Kevin Schade making way. Another of the Villa top five, indeed star player, Bryan Mbeumo had to be content with a place on the bench in lieu of Wissa with Frank The Tank coming in for the injured Christian Norgaard.

I know the 4-3-3 is favoured by many but Thomas isn’t afraid to mix his team up and didn’t it work to plan? The Bees taking control from the off and Chelsea barely even out of their own half in the opening five minutes. Then, the hosts got going. Kind of. Despite dominating the ball, their building was slower than La Sagrada Familia – somewhere they’ll only be able to visit on holidays next season. On this form, a trip to the Championship is more likely than Barcelona and the Champions league.

Tedious attempts to get forward. All the cutting edge of a pair of nursery-level safety scissors. Balls played towards a non-existent striker. Ethan, Ben and Zanka under the vast majority to head clear. When a shot was fired off, there was David Raya. As comfortable as ever.

Then, with half-time approaching, the lead for Brentford. Zanka guiding a corner goalwards(ish) with his header going in via the shoulder of Cesar Azpilicueta. 1-0 Bees on 37 minutes. The strike officially deemed an o.g. and it meant we ended the half with no shots on target but the slenderest of leads. That’s all that counts. All you can ask for. Surely Chelsea couldn’t be this irrelevant in the second half?

Also, not. Substitutions were made. Shots started to fire in. Pressure building. Yet David and the defence were resolute. Brentford very much on the backfoot and absorbing everything that came their way. A triple substitute on the hour was much needed and slowly but surely the Bees came back in to it. Chelsea fading as quickly as the ink on a manager’s contract.

After little over a quarter hour on the pitch, Bryan Mbeumo doubled the lead. The ball released by Vitaly, on to Ivan and then Bryan went off on a galloping run. Cutting in from side, going through defenders as though they weren’t even there and then booooommm! The ball fired into the back of the net and 2-0 Brentford. The Bees fans ecstatic. The home support presuamblyy receiving another government warning on their mobiles, such was the mass exodus despite there still being over ten minutes remaining.

That remaining time disappeared as quickly as the home support. The Bees fans partying long in to the night. Last season’s points total already surpassed and five games remaining to see if that unlikeliest of European dreams is still on. Seventh placed Liverpool are six points ahead with, of course, our own trip to Anfield up soon.

That’s to come. We still have the visit of Nottingham Forest next and, of course, before that the main reason for coming to these pages. Possibly. Our regular post-match look at the top five from this game as well as continuing our season long quest to declare Brentford’s overall top performer.

Like the Aston Villa game, we have any one of a number of potential candidates. David Raya was a rock whilst Bryan’s goal made it safe. Yet for me the game was won at the back. In smothering anything that Chelsea could throw at Brentford before it even became a threat. In nullifying their reputation and silencing the home support from the off (seriously, did anyone hear them singing?)

Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 33 (vs Chelsea)

1st (Star Player: 5 points) – Ethan Pinnock
He’s immense. Got stuck in early and showed no signs of letting up. Looking back at my notes they just say Pinnock, Pinnock, Pinnock. Everywhere. All game long.

After half-time in particular, when Chelsea finally got going, he was absolutely front and centre of every attempt to keep them out. Two early clearances in that opening five minutes of the second period laid down a marker that said anything thrown at us would be returned with interest.

Late on he did it at the other end. Carving out an opportunity for what would have been a quite specular three goal margin. Alas, his 82nd minute effort was met well enough but went just past the goal.

It would have been the perfect way to round off a stellar performance. Instead, he’ll have to be content with our star player award.

2nd (4 points) – Ben Mee
This game was won by denying Chelsea any opportunity. Yes, they had the shot count but it was largely optimism rather than, that short spell at the start of the second half, grounded in any realistic hope of doing something. That was as much down to Ben, Ethan and Zanka as anything else.

Ethan got star player but Ben Mee was very close behind him. He set his stall out with a wonderful clearance from Chelsea’s first threatening ball in to the box just before the quarter hour mark. From there, he mopped it all up. Everything. Not just clearing it blindly but attempting to release Rico and the midfield. Even breaking up pitch when chance allowed.

He’s not your traditional ball carrying centre-back but isn’t afraid to get involved. Such is his confidence at the back and comfort on the ball.

3rd (3 points) – Zanka
How do you pick between any of the central defenders? Whilst I think we have it right, any three of them could have made a case to rejig the running order.

The addition of Zanka, if nothing else, provided a quite brilliant distraction at the set pieces. Instead of a ball delivered deep to Ethan at the back stick, there was Zanka in the middle to glance it goalwards for our opener.

The quality of performance was shown by just how easily he slotted back in to the defence. Those lamenting the absence of Pontus (myself included) can at least take comfort that Zanka has been ready and waiting in the wings for when called upon. Wednesday’s return to the 3-5-2 showed we’ve nothing to fear in those last five games.

4th (2 points) – Rico Henry
Brilliant, again. The pressure relief he offers down the left cannot be underestimated. Moreso the pace at which he breaks. Gave Fofana a torrid time with his speed catching everybody in blue cold.

The option provided by Rico taking the ball from Ben Mee was especially crucial on a night like this one where our hosts had the lion’s share of possession. Thankfully, Rico made the lions looks toothless.

5th (1 point) – Vitaly Janelt
Really shone in the absence of Christian Norgaard. Likewise, Mathias Jensen and the Tank when both were changed over on the hour.

He had a blinder at The Bridge last time out and whilst he didn’t make the scoresheet on this occasion, his confidence and assuredness – both in breaking up play and playing the ball out – were arguably as important. If not more so.

I saw one observer opine later that he looked like a real leader. Who am I to disagree?

Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 33)

All of which means that with five games to play, our leaderboard is shaping up very nicely. The defensive heavy nature of the top five on Wednesday means things are getting very tight ahead of the visit from Nottingham Forest. Ethan finally edges ahead of Ben but could either catch Ivan?

I can’t wait to find out.

1st – Ivan Toney (61 points)
2nd – Ethan Pinnock (57 points)
3rd – Ben Mee (56 points)
4th – Rico Henry (48 points)
T5th – David Raya, Mathias Jensen (44 points)

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2022-23 Brentford Player Ratings – Matchweek 33 vs Nick Bruzon