Enzo Maresca insisted Chelsea's "unfair" schedule forced him to drop out-of-form forward Cole Palmer for Sunday's 0-0 draw at Brentford. Maresca's side had 24 hours less than Brentford to prepare for the west London derby after beating Tottenham 1-0 on Thursday. England star Palmer was eventually sent on by Maresca after an hour, but he was unable to break the deadlock, lifting his best chance over the crossbar in stoppage-time. Although Palmer has struggled for much of his second season with Chelsea -- failing to score in his last 12 games in all competitions -- Maresca was adamant it was the fixture list that was behind his axing against Brentford.