Pep Guardiola made a beeline for three players as his squad players tried to come to terms with what had just happened at the Gtech Stadium.

Having fought hard to earn a two-goal lead at Brentford that put Manchester City on course for a good win, the away end was singing about winning four in a row. Games, that is, not titles - it has been a long time coming and the wait will go on.

A ten minute collapse at the end of the game took City back a few steps after three much-needed wins in a row. It was more Feyenoord, Brighton and United than Leicester, West Ham and Salford - with the blame game beginning as soon as the referee called time on the game.

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There were question marks on Manu Akanji's role in Brentford's two goals. Matheus Nunes did okay at right-back but could he have shot in the first half through on goal? The midfield was wide open again, and Guardiola agreed with Phil Foden that City looked 'leggy' towards the end.

That in itself is concerning - City have had three games in 16 days including one against League Two opposition where Guardiola mde nine changes. City should have been fresh at Brentford, even with the injury crisis continuing.

Guardiola went to Savinho after the game who was bright but also slightly frustrating, and also to Josko Gvardiol. His most animated chat was with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega who looked a bit sheepish as his manager pushed him away, brought him back for a hug, then repeated that as he made his point.

The manager insisted that he was delighted with Ortega's performance. He explained: "I said how good he played, how good he passed to Erling, how satisfied I am." Guardiola's on-pitch coaching sessions are commonplace and are often fuelled by adrenaline and an opportunity for an animated manager to get a point off his chest in the short period of time before something else pushes it out.

Ortega will be disappointed he didn't claw out Christian Norgaard's late equaliser having got to the ball but he was only able to push it over the line. Aside from that, he generally justified his recall after Ederson faced Salford in the FA Cup.

A 6/10 in the Manchester Evening News player ratings summed up his evening: "Kept cool under pressure for much of the game and made a decent save in the second half to preserve the lead, but fumbled in the equaliser."

In respect to his recall after Saturday, Ortega is arguably City's number one now. He stepped up when Ederson was injured, and now the Brazilian is back Ortega has kept his place in the Premier League. Ederson is the cup goalkeeper since returning to fitness.

The most simplistic difference between the goalkeepers is that Ederson offers more in possession while Ortega is the better shot-stopper. Ortega completed 31 of his 38 passes at Brentford (82 per cent), with 15 of 20 long balls finding their target. His possession was probably better than usual, even with the odd moment of madness thrown in.

The truth is that Ederson hasn't been at his best this term like the majority of City players. He explored a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer but was persuaded to stay. Ortega also looked at leaving for personal reasons before signing a new contract, vowing to push his colleague even when Guardiola insists Ederson remains first choice.

Maybe that stance is changing. Ederson is fit and available, yet Ortega's recall after the FA Cup suggests the goalkeepers could have swapped order in the hierarchy.

And Guardiola's public display with Ortega at Brentford shows he is keen to help the 'number two' in his bid to stay as number one.