Chelsea fans had to turn and face the strange, losing at home to West Ham for the first time since September 2002 when Lampard was in the team that went down 3-2.
December is going to be a busy month, for sure, but Lampard’s Blues will go into it a little on the back foot after this disappointing result.
December is going to be a busy month, but Lampard’s Blues will go into it a little on the back foot after this disappointing resultCredit: Rex Features
Those who were in Valencia for the Champions League draw reported a Chelsea side that looked out on its feet by the end.
Some rotation was inevitable, with a busy December ahead, but Lampard opted to alter half his outfield players.
Tammy Abraham was injured but Andreas Christensen, N’Golo Kante, Cesar Azpilicueta and Willian were all rested and there was a loss of momentum.
Not that Chelsea were bad. With a better final ball and finishing, they might have turned their domination of possession into at least one goal in the first half.
Olivier Giroud came in for injured striker Tammy AbrahamCredit: Reuters
But they lacked fluency and barely tested West Ham goalkeeper David Martin, who was making his Premier League debut.
It might have been different if Mason Mount and Kurt Zouma had made more of decent chances at either end of the first half, or Christian Pulisic had diverted Reece James’ cross into the net in stoppage-time at the end of the first period.
It’s all if’s, but’s and maybe’s now, but you wonder if Willian had been on from the start, Chelsea would have found the killer pass.
Instead, he and N’Golo Kante were on the bench until the 63rd minute.
Willian was immediately more dangerous than Pedro had been and Martin made a decent save when Pulisic diverted the Brazilian’s cross goalwards.
The American fired another chance badly wide and Chelsea could not find a goal against a West Ham side that defended and battled for their lives.
Christian Pulisic had a good chance to equalise for ChelseaCredit: Reuters
Aaron Cresswell netted a winner for West Ham who stunned Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty – Contributor
Chelsea suffer consecutive Premier League defeatsCredit: PA:Press Association
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
