Bryan Mbeuemo scored to inflict more pain on Frank Lampard as Brentford produced one of the most comfortable football results of the weekend in the Premier League. Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer, Frank Lampard, has now lost his first five matches as manager after Cesar Azpilicueta’s first-half own goal (37) and substitute Bryan Mbeumo’s deflected goal (78) prolonged the team’s worst run in all competitions since 1993. Following the firing of Graham Potter earlier this month, Lampard, who previously served as Chelsea’s manager from 2019 to 2021, re-joined the team on an interim basis till the end of the current campaign. The 44-year-old, though, has presided over defeats to Real Madrid in both legs of their Champions League quarterfinal, as well as defeats at Wolves and at home to Brighton in the Premier League.
The fact that Chelsea has only managed one goal under Lampard—a severely deflected Conor Gallagher goal against Brighton—makes the situation worse. Brentford traveled a short distance without having won in six games, but after winning the West London derby against their rivals for the first time in 83 years last season, this well-earned triumph kept their outside European dreams alive. The Bees are eight points ahead of Chelsea in 11th position and six points behind seventh-place Tottenham in the standings. They are currently in the Europa Conference League spot.
Since their January transfer window spending spree, Chelsea has fallen significantly short of expectations, and based on this data, a turnaround in fortune under the new manager Lampard does not appear imminent. Here, an own goal had a role in the outcome of a game in which the hosts once again lacked quality and assurance. Lampard’s reputation hasn’t exactly improved since he was hired again. In October, he defeated Crystal Palace to earn his manager’s last Premier League victory. As a manager, he has now dropped 16 of his past 19 matches.
David Raya originally dropped a meek effort from Thiago Silva, but he had time to recover on the retry. There was no chance of a threatening finisher in blue lurking in the shadows. As the next man to try his luck, Enzo Fernandez. Since making his Premier League debut in early February, the World Cup champion has completed more passes than any other midfielder, but his effort from N’Golo Kante’s pullback was too gentle and Raya easily pushed it over.
When Mathias Jorgensen met Mathias Jensen’s corner, Brentford scored in the 37th minute. However, Azpilicueta accidentally beat Kepa Arrizabalaga with his attempted header. Although it never rains, it pours. It was Brentford’s 15th Premier League goal from a set piece this year. The past four league games that Frank’s team had scored first, including their most recent 1-1 tie with Aston Villa, had all ended in losses. Chelsea, though, showed there just in time to offer a quick remedy.
Thiago Silva glanced up and unleashed a hopeful long shot as Lampard stood cross-armed on the sidelines five minutes before halftime. Even if it was a hit and hope, Chelsea immediately gave off the impression that they were out of strategies. Lampard bent his head, turned around, and slouched into his seat as the ball thudded on the billboard behind David Raya’s goal. When the teams reemerged for the second half, there were jeers, and Lampard turned to Mykhailo Mudryk and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Following a quick reaction, Kante missed with a shot and Aubameyang missed with a header and a timid effort at Raya.
“Winning is so good. The intriguing thing is that I believe we did fairly well in the previous six games. At least two, and maybe three of the performances, were superior to this one. It was a strong showing and a well-earned victory, which is quite remarkable,” Brentford boss Thomas Frank said. “It’s no secret that Chelsea isn’t in the finest situation, yet Stamford Bridge, Chelsea, and its incredible players still exist. In many respects, it is astonishing that we have now done it twice in a row.”
“There is a squad balance issue that has to be resolved. I believe that is evident to everybody,” Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said. “This issue has existed before I was born. Maybe the squad doesn’t have as many goals as it should. The squad has a definite problem with it.”
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