'The plan nearly worked' - Enzo Maresca defends Chelsea changes as Blues boss pleased with 'complete game' despite goalless draw against Brentford

The pair were rested after playing Thursday's 1-0 victory over Tottenham, though both came on in the second half. Maresca was satisfied with how his team looked throughout the match.

Maresca said: "I think we shot more than 20 times, the only thing we missed was a goal but overall it's a good performance. We played Thursday night, so the idea was to start the game in one way and finish in another way. I think the plan nearly worked. We just missed the goal."

He added in a press conference: "I think overall we played a good game. We prepared the game in the way the game was, in terms of starting one way and finishing the other way. We played Thursday night, demanding game, 24 hours less than them. Tricky stadium, tricky game. Sunny day, the pitch was dry. They tried to kill the tempo of the game, so for me it was a complete game. But overall, as I said, I think we did enough to win the game. We shot more than 20 times and probably the only thing we missed has been the goal, but overall happy with the performance."

The draw takes Chelsea up to fourth and on course to qualify for the Champions League, despite an extended patchy run of results. The Blues have won just four of their last nine Premier League games, while Palmer is without a goal since January.

Chelsea begin their Conference League quarter-final against Legia Warsaw on Thursday evening before hosting Ipswich at Stamford Bridge next Saturday.