The latest Gtech derby : Picture by @YTJourno
**Brentford (1) 2** Schade 35, Carvalho 90+3
**Chelsea (0) 2** Palmer 61, Caicedo 85
The battling Bees rescued a dramatic point against their foes from across west London as two subs combined to give them an unlikely draw.
Long throw specialist Michael Kayode had gone off, but Kevin Schade - who had scored the first goal of the night to put the hosts in front at the interval - launched a long throw from the left and Kristoffer Ajer rose highest to head towards the back post for a lurking Fabio Carvalho to lash home.
It perhaps punished Chelsea for wasting the first half when they looked far below their best and were making do without a few of their best players.
Chelsea had to rip up their low-key starting line-up at the interval to turn the game in their favour and it appeared they had done enough by scoring two goals which threatened to take them to the top of the Premier League table tonight - Liverpool not playing until tomorrow. In the event, they were thwarted by the sheer willpower shown by the hosts.
It means that in spite of a run of wins at Stamford Bridge since reaching the Premier League, the Bees have still yet to beat their close adversaries at the Gtech in four attempts - but this one will feel a bit like a win.
It was almost a case of sending for the cavalry for Chelsea at the start of the second half as usual first teamers Marc Cucurella and Reece James were summoned from the bench, but it was the introduction of Palmer that carried even greater significance, with the England striker soon netting an equaliser.
The intention may have been to save some legs for the Wednesday date with Bayern Munich in Germany and a debut for Facundo Buononotte and a first start of the season for Wesley Fofana became part of that equation, but both were withdrawn at half time.
The game was largely an undistinguished affair until a moment of magic from Jordan Henderson and Schade lit up the contest before the break.
The England midfielder spotted the striker scampering wide left beyond Tosin and a 40-yard diagonal pass was calmly collected by the German, who checked back inside before drilling low past Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea's first half was less than impressive, to say the least and Enzo Maresca made a triple substitution at the interval before adding Cole Palmer to the mix and very soon the changes bore fruit.
Enzo Fernandez hoisted a ball up to the far post and Joao Pedro managed to get the better of Sepp van den Berg to nod down for Palmer to sweep into the bottom corner past Caoimhin Kelleher.
It seemed certain to herald an away win and when Kelleher made an excellent save to thwart Palmer following Pedro Neto's dash and cross from the right, it only looked like postponing the inevitable.
It was no surprise when Moises Caicedo picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and was given too much time by a retreating defence to weigh up his angles before firing firmly into the net.
The Bees were never short of the spirit Keith Andrews wants to see from his players, though, and there was to be a final twist in the tale.
**Bees:** (5-3-2) Kelleher - Kayode (Hickey 83), Collins, van den Berg, Pinnock (Ajer 83), Lewis-Potter (Carvalho 88) - Yarmoliuk, Henderson, Jensen (Outattara 73) - Thiago (Henry (73), Schade
**Blues:** (4-2-3-1) Sanchez - Fofana (James h/t), Chalobah, Tosin, Hato (Cucurella h/t) - Caicedo, Fernandez - Pedro Neto, Buonanotte (George h/t), Gittens (Palmer 56) - Joao Pedro (Garnacho 79)