In the 33rd round of the Premier League, Chelsea, despite having the home advantage, finished 0-2 against Brentford. This is the fifth consecutive defeat of the Blues under interim manager Frank Lampard.
Final result Chelsea vs Brentford (0-2)
Score: Azpilicueta (own goal 37′); Mbeumo (78′)
Chelsea have not won eight games in a row, including the last five defeats, the worst performance in 30 years. In the last seven matches, they also only scored one goal. Despite playing at home, Frank Lampard’s army continued to lose to Brentford. Defender Cesar Azpilicueta owns an own goal, before striker Bryan Mbeumo sets a 2-0 victory for the visitors.
Before this match, Brentford also went through a series of six games without a win in the English Premier League. But Chelsea is not an unpleasant opponent at the moment, even Thomas Frank’s army won at Stamford Bridge last season when the opponent was in high form. “Chelsea basically changed the entire squad compared to the last time we came here,” the away coach said before the match. “So this match will be very different.”
Thomas Frank was right, because the victory with Brentford came easier this time. Chelsea kept possession of the ball most of the time but did not create really dangerous chances. On the contrary, they also “shot themselves in the foot” with an own goal at the end of the first half. From Brentford’s corner on the left, the ball grazed Azpilicueta, changed direction to the far corner and went into the net to the surprise of the home player. According to the Guardian reporter, Lampard paled after this goal.
From the home field “advantage”, Chelsea was under pressure when the audience whistled and booed after the end of the first half. The home side played a little better in the second half when striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang narrowly headed the crossbar. The 34-year-old striker was given two more good chances but missed.
Not scoring, Chelsea also conceded in the 78th minute, stemming from the situation of the $110 million midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk to lose the ball. Midfielder Shandon Baptiste poked a slot for Mbeumo to lead the right counter-attack. Striker Brentford turned the ball to his forte left foot, then shot past the Chelsea player to the near corner, sealing a 2-0 victory.
Lampard believes that Chelsea players have lost 20% of their confidence with the recent series of bad matches. They will hardly be able to escape the losing streak, when the front opponent is Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on the evening of May 2.
List of fixtures Chelsea vs Brentford
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva, Chalobah, Azpilicueta (Aubameyang 46), Fernandez (Felix 79), Kovacic, Chilwell, Kante, Gallagher (Mudryk 46), Sterling (Madueke 79).
Brentford: Raya, Roerslev, Jorgensen, Pinnock, Mee, Henry (Hickey 91), Jensen (Baptiste 62), Onyeka (Damsgaard 62), Janelt, Toney (Schade 83), Wissa (Mbeumo 62).