SLIP SLIP HOORAY

Fall guy Cucurella nets then sees red

- ALAN SMITH

IF THE boots are no use, Marc Cucurella proved he can always do damage with his head.

Pension A week after putting his footwear in the bin, following a couple of unfortunate slips in the win away to Tottenham, the full-back nodded home his first league goal for Chelsea.

Nicolas Jackson, who had missed a glut of earlier chances, scored a second that proved decisive because of Bryan Mbeumo's late goal for Brentford.

But this was another impressive win for Enzo Maresca's men, who sit two points behind leaders Liverpool.

No matter how Thomas Frank's team frustrated them there was no sign of impatience in a frantic but frustrating opening 40 minutes.

They just kept plugging away until someone found a way.

And when Brentford poured forward in the minutes before Jackson made it 2-0 and in the final minutes, it was also notable how the Blues stayed cool.