Martin Lipton on Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea fans going back to the old songsheet, reminding any miserable West Ham fans who’ve tuned in - suspect more will be nursing a pint in a quiet room - that Frank Lampard had a decent scoring record against them.
But that’s a sign that it’s gone a little flat. Good news for Brentford, who managed to avoid conceding in that initial phase.
They don’t seem to have any real way of hurting Maresca’s men, though. Not so far anyway. Feels like we’re all waiting for Chelsea to go through the gears.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
The young Dutchman miscontrols the ball, and then in his desperation to retrieve it, lunges in on his opponent.
What saves Hato here is the fact that his leg isn't straight, his studs aren't showing and he catches Thiago a lot lower down the leg than when Soucek connected with Palinha.
Nevertheless, a deserved yellow card.
Martin Lipton reporting from the Gtech
Impressed with Buonanotte so far. He’s looking to drop into spaces, turn and slide the ball through. Neat and tidy, opening up his body well.
Certainly there is a composure about Maresca’s side, even if this is a line-up you wouldn’t expect to see starting too many times over the rest of the campaign.
Brentford don’t really know how to stem the advance, with the home side being pushed deeper and deeper in the opening phase.
Home fans have already decided Stuart Attwell is dressed in blue as well. Adds to the crackle, I guess. West London derby and all that.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
A stunned Kayode is the one penalised for a challenge on Gittens, but now the hosts must regain their composure to defend the set-piece.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
First he finds space in behind, and it's only a good recovery challenge from Chalobah that diverts the ball behind.
From the subsequent corner, the Bees work it short, and when the visitors' offside trap is picked apart, Schade gets his head on the end of a right wing cross - but there's not enough power or accuracy to beat Sanchez.
Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
Michael Kayode gets caught in possession trying to bring the ball out from the back, and immediately the Blues pounce.
Working it back towards the Brazilian in the area, Joao Pedro looks primed to score until Sepp van den Berg's excellent blocks.
Here come the teams!
From East London to West.
Tottenham came out on top in the teatime London derby, now it's the turn of Brentford and Chelsea to go head-to-head.
Enzo Maresca has rung the changes, and hands a debut to Facundo Buonanotte in the number ten role.
Keith Andrews has switched to five at the back for the visit of the Blues, and knows tonight will be a good barometer of how Brentford have regrouped following the loss of so many key players.
Kick-off comes next.
Martin Lipton reporting from the Gtech
More about who isn’t playing than who is for Chelsea at the Gtech.
No Cole Palmer, Reece James, Estevao Willian or new recruit Alejandro Garnacho - while we won’t see Liam Delap until long after the clocks have gone back.
Willian isn’t even on the bench - he’s apparently picked up a bug between the altitude of La Paz and London.
It means first Blues starts for Hato and Buononotte - a club debut for the on-loan Argentine - and a first start since MARCH for injury-plagued Wesley Fofana among four changes from the side that found a way to beat Fulham before the break.
Bees boss Keith Andrews is able to include Ethan Pinnock for the first time this season but Chelsea will be looking for the win to go top of the table - at least until tomorrow afternoon.
Match stats from the London Stadium
West Ham’s three defeats in the Premier League this season have all been by a 3+ goal margin - 3-0 at Sunderland, 5-1 at home to Chelsea, 3-0 against Spurs.
Matchday Four is the joint earliest a side has lost three games by a 3+ goal margin in a season in the competition along with Bournemouth in 2022-23.
Full time - West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
The West Ham players - and fans - are finally put out of their misery.
Spurs have eased to a 3-0 win here, and really didn't have to do too much other than pepper the home side with corners. Hey, if it works for their North London neighbours...