Chelsea 0-2 Brentford
Played five, lost five. That’s the telling stat from Supper Frankie Lampard’s second tenure at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues welcomed Brentford hoping to turn around their rotten run of results but were ultimately undone by a Cesar Azpilicueta own goal and a strike from Bryan Mbuemo.
Chelsea’s ongoing injury issues carried on as both Mason Mount and Reece James ruled out for the rest of the season, with Kai Havertz missing this game due to an ongoing knee injury.
As a result, Lampard had to start the game with Raheem Sterling playing upfront. This unbalanced formation was particularly telling by the first piece of action where a makeshift winger in N'Golo Kanté, crossed the ball into the Brentford box with no Chelsea players in the area.
Few and far between
Chances for both sides were few and far between and it took until the 22nd minute for the first effort at goal, with Kante running down the byline and crossing into Thiago Silva, who could only head it tamely into Raya’s hands.
Chelsea enjoyed large amounts of possession in the first half but were ultimately undone by an own goal when a curling corner kick from Mathias Jensen was flicked on by Mathias Jorgensen which went in off Azpilicueta's arm.
As boos rang out at the end of the first half, such is Chelsea’s form that they were losing without Brentford mustering a single shot on target.
More chances
The caretaker manager did try to make attacking changes to the team by bringing on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mykhailo Mudryk. In a more recognisable 3-4-3 formation and with Sterling back on the wing, Chelsea did create more chances.
Aubameyang had a handful of chances, but it was evident to everyone in the stadium that he is very rusty. He tried to chip the Brentford keeper but put too much power and was put through on goal a few minutes later – but could only manage a scuffed shot into Raya’s gloves.
Against the run of play, Brentford doubled their lead in the 77th minute when a quick counterattack from Brentford saw Bryan Mbuemo’s rasping shot took a deflection off Silva before flying into the back of the Chelsea net.
João Félix and Noni Madueke came on for the last 10 minutes as Stamford Bridge began to empty. But they couldn’t add anything to the toothless attack that has only managed to score 30 goals in 32 games and sees Chelsea securely in the bottom half of the table.
After the match, Lampard said: “There is a balance to the squad to address. We have to keep working and fighting to score goals – it’s a clear issue for the team.”
Rumours are circulating that Mauricio Pochettino may be the next manager for Chelsea.
Regardless, their next manager will need to figure out how to get this collection of expensive players to play as a team. And crucially, score some goals.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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