Brentford ended Chelsea's winning Premier League start under new head coach Graham Potter as they held their west London rivals to a goalless draw at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Chelsea came into the game having won Potter's first three Premier League games at the helm - and their last five in all competitions - but on this occasion they were fortunate to come away with a point.

Brentford, 4-1 winners over the Blues in April, again restricted Chelsea to few chances but could not find a way past the in-form Kepa Arrizabalaga at the other end, the Spanish goalkeeper pulling off three fine saves from the dangerous Ivan Toney.

Thomas Frank's side also threatened through Toney's strike-partner Bryan Mbeumo, but he spurned their clearest chance of the evening when he sent a free header straight at Kepa shortly after half-time.

Chelsea improved in the latter stages of the game, with substitute Carney Chukwuemeka drawing a smart save from David Raya in stoppage time, but they struggled to create many other clear chances even following the introductions of Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the bench.

Player ratings

Brentford: Raya (8), Jorgensen (7), Mee (7), Pinnock (8), Roerslev (7), Henry (7), Onyeka (7), Janelt (7), Jensen (7), Mbeumo (6), Toney (7).

Subs: Dasilva (6), Wissa (6), Baptiste (6), Ghoddos (n/a).

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga (8), Azpilicueta (7), Chalobah (7), Koulibaly (7), Loftus-Cheek (7), Mount (5), Jorginho (6), Cucurella (6), Gallagher (5), Broja (5), Havertz (6).

Subs: Kovacic (6), Pulisic (7), Sterling (6), Chukwuemeka (6), Aubameyang (6).

Man of the match: Kepa Arrizabalaga

How Brentford frustrated Chelsea

Brentford were looking to win back-to-back league games against Chelsea for the first time since February 1939 following that memorable win at Stamford Bridge in April, and they made a confident start against their opponents.

Toney, scorer of six goals in his previous five Premier League games, was denied twice in the opening period by Kepa, who would go on to keep a fifth consecutive clean sheet.

After his unmarked header from Mads Roerslev's centre was clawed away on nine minutes, he had an even more presentable opportunity when Ruben Loftus-Cheek inadvertently flicked on Raya's long kick, but again Toney's instinctive header brought a superb reaction save.

Chelsea made five changes from their 2-0 win over Aston Villa as Potter sought to freshen things up, and Armando Broja was one of those alterations, making his first start of the campaign.

After being frustrated by the attentions of Ben Mee in the opening exchanges, he very nearly broke the deadlock when he was inches away from connecting with Cesar Azpilicueta's cross. That aside, a long-range Azpilicueta shot comfortably kept out by Raya was as good as it got for Chelsea before half-time.

The visitors started the second half with greater intensity but Brentford continued to look more threatening in the final third and should have opened the scoring when Mbeumo directed his free header straight at Kepa.

It was another reprieve for Chelsea, who also lost Conor Gallagher to an early injury, but they continued to lack spark going forward, despite a wave of substitutions by Potter.

There was a powerful effort from Kai Havertz which required a parry from Raya but Brentford continued to cause them problems on the break, with substitute Yoanne Wissa firing into the side-netting and Toney again denied by Kepa, this time having got in behind their backline on the right-hand side of the box.

Chelsea were finally able to pin Brentford back for the final few minutes, with Ethan Pinnock making an outstanding, last-ditch tackle to deny Sterling and Raya saving from Chukwuemeka, who was making only his second appearance of the season, but the visitors held firm to secure a point which keeps them only six points behind their neighbours in ninth.

Brentford must get Frank tied down on improved terms

Sky Sports' Ben Grounds at the Gtech Community Stadium:

"Chelsea maintained their unbeaten run under Graham Potter but had to settle for a point against a Brentford side that continues to punch above its weight under Thomas Frank.

"This turned out to be a bit of a damp squib of a derby without goalless, but in keeping an in-form Chelsea at bay and creating the better of the chances, Frank may well rue a missed opportunity of making it back-to-back wins over their west London neighbours for the first time in 80 years.

"Potter was forced into a triple change in the second period owing to the problems Brentford were causing his side, who possessed a distinct lack of cutting edge up front.

"Here, the hosts outran their opponents - 101.9km to 94.2km - while they also produced more sprints - 120 to 88. The work rate of this side under Frank, spurred on by the packed house, is one of the reasons why the club are desperate for the Dane to sign a new deal at the Gtech Community Stadium.

"This week marked four years since Frank took over from Dean Smith as Bees boss and initial talks on improved terms are progressing to detract potential suitors.

"Leicester and Brighton are just two of the clubs reportedly impressed by his management style. His contract until 2025 currently includes a buy-out clause, possibly as low as £3m.

"David Raya produced five saves to frustrate Chelsea, but it is the organisation Frank has fostered from back to front which was behind a fourth clean sheet of the season."

Chelsea's capital gains - Opta stats

` Chelsea have lost just one of their last 11 away London derbies in the Premier League (W9 D1), keeping eight clean sheets in these matches.

- Brentford are unbeaten against Chelsea (W1 D1) in consecutive games for the first time since a run of three in February 1939 (W2 D1).

- Brentford have kept consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for just the second time, after doing so in their first two games in the competition in August 2021.

- Despite not starting the match, Mateo Kovacic was directly involved in seven of Chelsea's 14 attempts at goal, with his four chances created the most of any player (three shots also).

What's next?

Brentford visit Aston Villa next Sunday in the Premier League at 2pm, while Chelsea host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday Night Football, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 5.30pm.

Teams

Brentford Raya, Roerslev, Pinnock, Mee, Henry, Onyeka (Baptiste 60), Janelt (Ghoddos 90+2), Jensen (Dasilva 73), Mbeumo (Wissa 73), Toney (c), Zanka
Subs Not Used Cox, Ajer, Damsgaard, Canos, Lewis-Potter
Booked
Goals

Chelsea Kepa, Azpilicueta (c), Chalobah, Koulibaly, Cucurella (Pulisic 62), Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Gallagher (Kovacic 15), Mount (Chukwuemeka 62), Broja (Sterling 62), Havertz (Aubameyang 81)
Subs Not Used Mendy, Silva, Zakaria, Ziyech
Booked
Goals

Attendance 17,118

Referee Jarred Gillett

VAR Michael Salisbury