Such is the air of vulnerability that surrounds the current Manchester City, they can be two goals ahead with eight minutes remaining without ever looking confident of winning the match. These scenarios would be impossible in previous seasons but, in City’s current state, it was hardly even a surprise that Brentford came back into this game.

Truly, these are extraordinary days for the champions. Pep Guardiola’s side once dominated every aspect of the game, forcing their opponents back towards their own goal, but against Brentford they found themselves in a relentless slugfest of a match. No control, no patience, and certainly no defensive security.

The fact that Brentford scored twice in the final eight minutes might suggest this was a shock comeback. Do not be fooled. Really, the only shock was that it took so long for Brentford to find the net. Thomas Frank’s side gave as good as they got, pouring forward again and again, and they could have won it at the end.

It might have been tempting to think in recent weeks, as City won three consecutive games, that they were heading back to their usual levels. When Phil Foden struck twice in the second half here, it felt for a moment like something might just be stirring. But under sustained pressure, City buckled again. “We did not cope with the physicality,” Foden admitted.

Guardiola was either unable or unwilling to offer an explanation for why his team is finding it so difficult to hold onto leads. “I don’t know, it can happen,” he said, in less impassioned tones than he produced during his bizarre post-match rant at goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. “Sometimes it happens. We have to manage a little bit better.”

Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard were the scorers for the home side, who produced 18 shots to City’s 21. City were also thankful to Nathan Aké, so often the last man of a desperate defence, for preventing more goals. Aké twice produced remarkable goal-line blocks. The first of those left Frank on the floor on the touchline, on his hands and knees, in disbelief.

Recent victories over Leicester City, West Ham United and Salford City had generated the feeling that City were on their way back, but this was always going to be a much more complicated challenge. Brentford are a formidable side at home – before this game, 22 of their 27 points had been won here – and they are never afraid to attack.

“The way we played, how brave we were, the aggressivity and bravery, I loved everything about my team’s performance,” said Frank. “That makes me extremely happy. This is the first time for 90 minutes we managed to go more or less toe to toe with one of the best teams in the world.”

It was clear within 20 minutes that City were totally unable to handle Brentford’s forward players. Bryan Mbeumo and Wissa were darting all over the City half, dragging defenders around and creating chances at will. Both could have scored twice each in those early exchanges.

City were vulnerable but they also posed difficult questions of their own, after a while. Erling Haaland headed wide, Mateo Kovacic fired a low shot off target and Matheus Nunes made a total mess of a huge opportunity in the Brentford area. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Nunes attempted to cut back onto his weaker left foot. A bad idea, and even worse execution.

Nothing about City feels particularly joyful at the moment and their general dissatisfaction was best encapsulated by the body language of Haaland. After producing a neat headed cross that was not attacked by a team-mate, the great striker moodily shrugged his shoulders. On the touchline, Guardiola responded to a Savinho shot by rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

Another Savinho effort was to follow after the break. This time the Brazilian struck the post, prompting Guardiola to put his hands on his head in frustration.

The match continued to swing from one end to the other, with both teams going close again, before Foden finally found the breakthrough. Kevin De Bruyne’s cross was measured to perfection and Foden produced one of his balletic, volleyed touches to divert it home. He then added a second, smashing home a rebound.

But Brentford were never out of the game and they never stopped pushing. Wissa converted from close range for their first, before Norgaard powerfully headed in their second. A deserved point for them, and yet another setback for City.