TWO points dropped, just as they looked to have nicked all three.
No wonder Enzo Maresca was left holding his head in despair.
But without Cole Palmer, Maresca’s Blues would have been tasting defeat rather than an unpleasant headache at throwing away top spot at the death.
Fabio Carvalho’s last-gasp strike, poking home when Chelsea failed to deal with a Hail Mary long throw into the box, took some of the plaudits away from Palmer.
But coming on with Chelsea trailing to Kevin Schade’s first half goal, the England man had shown the Stamford Bridge side’s silverware hopes rest on him more than ever.
Palmer’s equaliser – incredibly his first Prem goal in open play for eight months – was a thing of measured beauty, caressing a side-footed half-volley into the net from eight yards.
That set the scene for what was to follow, a stunner from Moises Caicedo which looked set to nick the points.
Yet there was a final twist, Carvahal left with an open net when fellow sub Kristoffer Ajer flicked on Schade’s long throw and change the mood.
And, given how poor Chelsea had been for two thirds of the contest, they could not really complain.
Without Palmer, Chelsea were limp and lifeless, caught cold for Schade’s opener and lacking imagination or verve.
It was a damp squib of a display, evidence Chelsea simply do not have the strength in depth that Arsenal have already demonstrated is in Mikel Arteta’s locker.
But they do have a jewel, a sparkling English diamond.
Even if Palmer is not quite fully-fit – explaining why he as well as Reece James and Marc Cucurella started on the bench, with a bug ruling out Brazilian prodigy Estevao completely – his mere presence makes a difference.
And Chelsea needed that, too.
Possession for the sake of possession – the criticism made of Maresca for much of last season – doesn’t add up to anything substantial.
Indeed, from the 15th minute when Trevoh Chalobah’s header drifted well wide, until the last seconds of the first half when Enzo Fernandes’ left-footer was deflected behind, Chelsea did not cause Caoimhin Kelleher a quiver of concern.
Brentford had already signalled the way they thought they could unhinge the Blues.
In only the sixth minute, a long ball had dropped on the edge of the Chelsea box, where Igor Thiago found Schade, only for Tosin Adarabioyo to get the vital block.
And it was from almost the exact same shooting position that the home side drew first blood.
Chalobah went far too deep into Brentford territory not to win his sliding challenge but that failure opened the door for Jordan Henderson to unleash the deep diagonal.
Wesley Fofana, making his first start since March, was absent without leave
Schade drove into the box and this time his strike squirted between Tosin’s legs, flicking the left calf to carry it home.
Maresca sent on James, Cucurella and Tyrique George, with Fofana, summer recruit Jorrel Hato and on-loan Facundo Buonanotte the trio sacrificed before Palmer was sent into action.
The impact was instant.
Chelsea started to get bodies into the box with menace.
Palmer, of course, was there to stroke home on the half-volley when Joao Pedro outjumped Sepp van den Berg to meet Enzo’s cross from the right.
Robert Sanchez, just, scrambled to keep out an instant response from Schade but now it was the Palmer show.
He should have put them in front, drilling too close to Kelleher after Pedro Neto scampered into the box.
Alejandro Garnacho, on for his Blues bow, saw his low cross was only half-cleared and Caicedo smashed his rising right footer into the top corner.
But Brentford had the final word, to Gtech glee. And without Palmer, Chelsea wouldn’t even have got that single point.
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