HALF-TIME: Brentford 1 - 0 Chelsea
League One Brentfrod FC lead European Champions Chelsea at half-time. And deservedly so.
The latest team news and goals from this weekend's fourth round FA cup fixtures
League One Brentfrod FC lead European Champions Chelsea at half-time. And deservedly so.
It has been coming. Marcello Trotta scores in the 42 minute. The Bees are buzzing.
The sun is out at Griffin Park. And so are the teams.
First meeting between these two west London sides in 63 years gets underway. Chelsea captain John Terry starts for the first time since November.
Brentford chairman Greg Dyke says it's their biggest crowd in 30 years.
Brentford team (vs Chelsea): Moore, Hodson, Craig, Dean, Logan, Forshaw, Douglas Diagouraga, Donaldson, Trotta, Forrester
From Chelsea's Official Twitter feed;
Today's team: Turn; Iva, Cahill, JT (c), Cole; Ram, Lamps; Marin, Oscar, Bertrand; Torres. Subs: Hilario, Fer, Azp, Mata, Ben, Ba, Ake
More football gossip. Sun On Sunday reporting that Rafa Benitez has told owner Roman Abramovich he wants to stay on as manager on a permanent basis. Something that Chelsea fans probably don't want to hear...
From today's SUNDAY EXPRESS: Brentford defender Tony Craig has admitted that he and his teammates "could encourage ballboys to waste time" today when they face Chelsea in their FA Cup fourth round tie.
Brentford FC Official Twitter page @BrentfordFC:
"Fans travelling to today's game are strongly advised to use public transport wherever possible. Parking is already extremely limited in the rounds surrounding Griffin Park for today's game."
Chelsea face Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup, their first game since Eden Hazard was sent off for kicking a ball boy. Kick off is at noon.
Elsewhere, Tottenham are away to Leeds, in a 2pm kickoff.
Rafael Benitez has insisted that the FA Cup is as much a priority as the league, saying:
"The FA Cup is our next target, we will try to do it. The priority is very clear. Finish in the top four and try to progress and try to go, as much as we can, to the final or to the semi-final."
Defending the rotation policy which will likely see recalls for Paulo Ferreira and Ryan Bertrand in addition to John Terry, Benitez said: "You can make one mistake in one game. It does not mean that the approach is not good enough."
Like Chelsea, Brentford lie third in their own division. Benitez said:
"I have seen some games and I was talking with the scout. They can play in different ways. They can switch. They can play long, they can try to win second balls. So, quite an interesting team and they are doing well."