An in-form Brentford have been preparing themselves for Saturday’s West London Derby clash with Chelsea, the match being their first such derby in the English top-flight after a long 74-year wait. Having beaten both Arsenal and West Ham United as well as nicking a point off Liverpool in their seven matches so far, Thomas Frank’s men are looking to add the league leaders’ scalp into their collection as they seek to continue their decent start to the season.
This Saturday is a very special day for West London as all four professional clubs within the locale are playing each other in domestic action. And while the early kick-off in the EFL Championship saw Fulham taking on close neighbors Queens Park Rangers at Craven Cottage, West London’s Premier League representatives Brentford and Chelsea will clash at the former’s Brentford Community Stadium for the first top-flight West London Derby of the season.
Danish head coach Frank spoke about his team’s chances in the upcoming match, acknowledging the sheer difference between Thomas Tuchel’s side and his own as quoted from Tribal Football, “Chelsea won the Champions League on the same day we clinch promotion to the Premier League. That’s the big picture of the difference between our clubs.”
“But we’re not here to add the numbers in the Premier League,” Frank continued, “And the best way to do that is by bidding, pushing, and trying to attack them. We will try to do that as much as possible on Saturday. Chelsea are a team of the highest quality with world-class players in their squad and a world-class manager at the helm. But we love that challenge and we can’t wait.”
Brentford will be without Shandon Baptiste, however former Glasgow Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer and Vitaly Janelt are back in contention for Saturday’s derby.
The Bees had yet to beat Chelsea since a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge all the way back in 1939, however, they would fancy their chances as Brentford have won 78% of their matches against sides who started the matchweek as league leaders, the highest percentage in English top-flight history.
Chelsea, who are without the likes of Thiago Silva, Christian Pulisic, and Antonio Rudiger for the derby, will be visiting the Brentford Community Stadium for the first time in their history. Their last match away to Brentford was all the way back in the 2012/13 FA Cup, where they played out a 2-2 draw with the then-League One side at the Bees’ old stadium, Griffin Park.