Chelsea cannot be ignored after another win that places them solidly in second place.
Nicolas Jackson tried hard to ruin my prediction of him reaching 20 goals this season by missing yet another unmissable opportunity, but at least he notched one later in the game later to take him on to nine.
The real story was the human spaniel Marc Cucurella. I usually use that description with affection – this time, less so. He scored a fine goal, played exceptionally with no apparent footwear problems and then went down as if poleaxed with a head injury after he walked into Brentford defender Sepp van den Berg.
In the ensuing fury that carried on post-match, Cucurella got a second yellow card and is now suspended, which felt awfully like instant karma.
On this occasion, I cannot say for sure that the ‘head injury’ was feigned. Maybe Cucurella did hurt himself, but Van Den Berg certainly had no blame at all.
If the Spaniard was play acting, like he has on a number of occasions – particularly when playing for his country – then he is off my Christmas card list and I don’t care if I am off his.
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