What 3 top pundits all noticed about Chelsea’s Brentford test tonight

Alan Shearer is among the pundits predicting a win for Chelsea in tonight’s game:

“Brentford’s away form is not good, but their home record is unbelievable and that’s why they are where they are,” Shearer said in quotes picked up by The Metro.

“But Chelsea, with the form that they’re in, will win this game. Even though they haven’t got far to travel it’s still an away game for Brentford which is why I predict a defeat for them.

Former Liverpool forward Stan Collymore agreed – he put a number on it too, going for a 3-1 win for the Blues.

Chelsea fans and former Arsenal defender Paul Merson opted for the same scoreline, with the following logic:

“Brentford are Chelsea’s bogey team. It’s incredible how they have won in each of their last three games against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge,” Merson noted.

“[But] based on current form, it’s impossible for Chelsea to not win. Brentford have a terrible away record in the Premier League this season, that form is extreme and it’s not at all ideal…Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Brentford.”

Two competing records go head to head

What all the predictions have in common is a focus on the two competing dynamics going into this game – on the one hand, Chelsea have really struggled against Brentford, who have become their biggest “bogey team” in recent years.

On the other hand, Brentford’s good results this season have almost all been at home, and the game is at Stamford Bridge.

So one of the two trends is going to have to break – and if you look at what the pundits think, it’s going to be Chelsea’s Brentford hoo-doo which ends. A long trip in midweek could change things however – and we could be without a lot of attacking options.