It had looked like Chelsea were set to seal a win that was the mark of title contenders. They had gone a goal down but came back in the second half to go 2-1 up, thanks to two brilliant goals from Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo. But then, we saw why this side is still not ready to be competing with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.
After turning the game around, they could not manage it. And ultimately, they conceded in added time, dropping two points as a result when a win was well within reach. It was not a goal that came out of nowhere either. Perhaps it goes on to show the defensive weaknesses that exist in this team.
Many questioned whether Enzo Maresca made too many changes on the day with an eye on the upcoming Bayern Munich game. The manager does not seem to believe so.
In fact, Joao Pedro played 79 minutes despite not being 100%. That will be a worry going into the Bayern Munich game. Maresca said, as reported by Nizaar Kinsella:
"Joao Pedro told me he wasn't 100 percent fit so if I was thinking of Bayern Munich then I wouldn't play him."
Chelsea boss drops worrying Joao Pedro fitness news after Brentford game
One has to imagine that if Chelsea still had Nicolas Jackson, this would not have been the case. But this is the position that the club have left themselves in, after some questionable decisions in the summer transfer window. Now, Delap is out until December and Marc Guiu is the only cover option for Pedro, although the Spaniard might not be ready to lead the line in important or tough games. It is hard to imagine him getting too many starts. Of course, that puts more pressure on the Brazilian.
One can only hope that Pedro is able to remain fit over the coming months. He is vital to this Chelsea, as we saw against Brentford as well. Despite not getting much service, he did put himself about and provided a vital assist as well.
Next up for Chelsea is a game against Bayern Munich and their long-awaited return to the Champions League. Hopefully, Pedro will be in better shape for that game.