Chelsea beaten 3-0 at Brentford without injured Joao Pedro

Chelsea lost 3-0 at Brentford without their most in-form attacker.

Jaidon Anthony broke the game open in the 61st minute. His header from a corner put Brentford ahead, and the hosts pushed on from there to complete a comfortable win, according to BBC Sport.

It was a familiar wound. Anthony's goal was the fifth Chelsea have conceded from a set-piece this season, meaning a corner or free-kick and the rehearsed routines that follow.

The numbers are stark. Chelsea have now conceded 12 goals in the Premier League this season, more than any other side, although they have played a game more than every other team. Since the start of last season they have conceded 23 goals from set-pieces, also more than any other Premier League side.

They had to chase this game without Joao Pedro. The Brazilian forward missed the trip to Brentford with a knee injury.

His absence hurt. Pedro had scored three goals and provided three assists in four appearances this season. That was the most goal involvements in the Premier League entering the weekend.

Pedro had pulled out of the Brazil squad 48 hours before the Brentford match, as reported by football.london. He withdrew from Brazil's friendlies against Australia and India due to injury, Reuters reported, and will sit out the upcoming international break.

Chelsea have seen this player carry them before. He scored his first Premier League hat-trick earlier this year as Chelsea came from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-1 away.

What makes this stand out is how quickly the mood has shifted. With Pedro firing, Chelsea looked sharp in attack. Without him at Brentford, the flaws at the other end took centre stage.

For fans, this means a nervous wait. Chelsea need their main goal threat fit, and they need to fix a defence that every opponent now targets from dead balls. Sort one, and the other becomes easier to carry.