Brentford v Chelsea ratings: Rico Henry 7, Sergi Canos 5; Mateo Kovacic 7, Harvey Vale 7

Blues claim 2-0 win at Brentford Community Stadium to advance to League Cup semi-finals

BRENTFORD PLAYER RATINGS: Alvaro Fernandez – 6. Equal to attempts on goal by Simons and Vale. Made two saves in quick succession in the second half and reacted well to a free-kick attempt from James, but had no chance to save Jansson’s own goal, before his outstretched arm brought down Pulisic in the box. AFP

Mads Bech Sorensen – 6. A long-awaited return for the Dane, who hadn’t featured since August and who could have headed in Jensen’s cross. Showed great vision to find Toney, who had found the space in the final quarter of the game. AFP

Pontus Jansson – 6. Blocked a weak effort from the outside of the box by Saul. Provided a necessary clearance in front of goal from the left wing but couldn’t clear a dangerous cross by James, which he could only direct into his own net. PA

Ethan Pinnock – 6. Returned to the starting line-up after being sidelined with Covid-19, but it was a fairly quiet runout, though he did show a few sparks. AP

Sergi Canos – 5. A frustrating game for Canos, who returned from suspension, as he was often having to play on the backfoot. Booked. AFP

Shandon Baptiste – 6. Didn’t make much happen but did have some promising moments of footwork, twisting and turning through Chelsea at times with his dribbles. AFP

Mathias Jensen – 6. Forced Kepa into a good save and then worked hard at the other end minutes after to deny Kovacic. Later found Baptiste with a slide-rule pass through a very small gap. Getty Images

Vitaly Janelt – 6. Booked for a foul on Kovacic in the opening stages and was perhaps relieved to see referee Andre Marriner wave away an appeal after a challenge on Alonso. AP

Rico Henry – 7. Some brilliant play by Henry in the build-up to the Bees first chance at goal and could have netted his third of the season when he dispossessed Chelsea’s Simons to race on the ball and force Kepa into a save. AFP

Yoane Wissa – 6. The left winger had seen success in the early stages of the League Cup and could have added another goal to his tally, but he failed to head past Kepa in the opening stages. AFP

Bryan Mbeumo – 6. Continued to lead the line and the Bees were aware of the outlet he brought on the counter-attack. Supplied a lovely cross for Wissa, though his teammate was unable to convert, while later a volley from a corner lacked direction. Reuters

SUBS: Ivan Toney (for Wissa 65’) – 5. A welcomed return for the fans’ favourite and though he had a few balls launched in his direction, Chelsea had it covered. Reuters

Christian Norgaard (for Janelt 65’) – 5 Couldn’t really get into the game (no match photo available). Reuters

Saman Ghoddos (for Henry 73’) – N/R Didn’t see much of the ball (no match photo available). Getty Images

Frank Onyeka (for Baptiste 74’) – N/R. Made a few tackles following his introduction but couldn’t make anything happen (no match photo available). AP

Marcus Forss (for Jansen 81’) – N/R. Went down in the box in the closing minutes but any penalty shout was waved away. Reuters

CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 7. Had two big moments in the first half, first providing a point-black save to deny Wissa’s header in the opening stages, before pushing out Jensen’s header at his near post. Big save to deny Henry later. Did his job in the first half to keep his side in the tie before a quiet second half. Reuters

Xavier Simons – 6 .The 18-year-old made his debut and forced Fernandez into a low save with a great hit from the edge of the box before displaying some great tracking back after being dispossessed. Getty Images

Trevoh Chalobah – 7. There were some concerns after the centre-back limped off the pitch against Wolves but he provided a vital block to deny a Henry cross into the box and put an end to any hopes of Toney sprinting onto loose ball with a clearance into the crowd. AFP

Malang Sarr – 6. Seemingly struggled to follow Wissa and lost his man for a free header but grew in confidence in the second half. Reuters

Cesar Azpilicueta – 7. A senior head amongst a young backline, the Spaniard was there to tidy up and add calm, but he couldn’t keep his own effort on target with a long-range effort soaring over the crossbar. PA

Mateo Kovacic – 7. The Croatian was forced to return early from injury after making his first start in two months, but he didn’t look too rusty, linking well with Alonso on the left and playing a key part in the middle of the park. PA

Saul Niguez – 6. The Atletico Madrid loanee showed promising movement in the early stages, holding off Brentford to shield the ball and came out of the traps lively in the second half, knitting things together. Booked. Reuters

Marcos Alonso – 7. A huge threat on the left wing with many of Chelsea’s attacks coming at the hands of Alonso, Kovacic and Vale linking up in the first half. Getty Images

Ross Barkley – 7. A regular in the cup and had plenty of opportunities throughout. The Englishman will be shaking his head at his effort in the 15th minute when he couldn’t quite adjust to Soonsup-Bell’s low cross across goal, whilst his looping header was unable to trouble Fernandez. AP

Jude Soonsup-Bell – 6, With Thomas Tuchel unable to name a striker from his first team squad, the 17-year-old forward was given the opportunity to lead the line and looked lively on his debut. PA

Harvey Vale – 7. The 18-year-old was the third development squad member handed a debut and he looked fearless in his defending and attacking abilities against a strong Brentford side. He linked up very well with his Under-23 teammate Soonsup-Bell and had two chances of his own in the first half. AFP

SUBS: Christian Pulisic (for Soonsup-Bell 45’) – 7. Lively on his introduction and raced onto a ball into the box to get a toe-poke on to win the penalty. Saw a shot of his own go just wide in the closing stages. PA

Jorginho (for Kovacic 45’) – 6. Slotted home from the spot with ease. Reuters

Mason Mount (for Vale 65’) – N/R. Rested with Tuchel keeping in mind the run of fixtures in the next few weeks and came on as Chelsea searched for an opener. AP

Reece James (for Simons 65’) – 7. The right-back is no stranger at having a crack at goal and he had a chance with a free-kick into the box but Fernandez was equal to it. Reuters

N’Golo Kante (for Barkley 76’) – N/R. A return to action for the Frenchman. Superb work in the build-up to the goal. Getty Images

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel praised his academy players for stepping up on short notice and helping the club to a 2-0 win over Brentford in the League Cup on Wednesday.

Teenagers Harvey Vale, Jude Soonsup-Bell and Xavier Simons were included in the starting XI for the quarter-final after a string of Covid-19 cases left the Chelsea squad depleted.

"They did well," Tuchel told reporters. "They hadn't trained for a week because the academy was closed for Covid-19.

"We invited them into training two days ago, so two sessions with us. They listened carefully and did their jobs, they did good."

The trio of academy players were taken off in the second half, with the game still at 0-0.

Tuchel brought on regulars Jorginho, Reece James, Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount and N'Golo Kante in the second half to great effect, with James's cross leading to a Pontus Jansson own goal and Jorginho scoring a penalty in the 85th minute.

"We knew we could have five big changes with a lot of quality, and also fresh legs because they were not overused," Tuchel said "That helped us a lot and was needed. I'm a big supporter of five changes."

Chelsea were drawn against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals.

"I think the Tottenham draw is nice for our fans, a London derby, very difficult but we are looking forward to it," said Tuchel.

Assessing the performances from the Brentford Community Stadium, Emma James has proved the player ratings in the photo gallery above. Click on the arrows to move on to the next photo, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.