CHELSEA fans: do not adjust your TV sets.
Despite recent events, this really is the same team you have been watching steadily demolish the opposition on the box lately at an empty Stamford Bridge.
Jorginho has recently handed over penalties to team-mate Timo Werner, who was left outCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The second time that supporters were allowed back into the ground and the second time in a row that Chelsea went behind.
Russian minnows FA Krasnodar picked up where Leeds United left off on Saturday when they took the lead against a team which has made strengthening its defence a top priority this season.
Last night’s slip up can be put down to the fact this was about as meaningless a match as you can get.
For Chelsea, already through to Monday’s draw for the Champions League last 16 as group winners, it was the cue for an off night.
But in a Premier League match last weekend the visitors were also the first to land a blow when former academy graduate Patrick Bamford scored after eight minutes.
As long as it all ends going Chelsea’s way after 90 minutes it won’t really matter to the fans. But it does to demanding boss Frank Lampard.
His Pick ‘n’ Mix XI contained future hopefuls, those returning from injury and forgotten stars of last season.
But they still had one job. One job – to win.
Jorginho resumed penalty duties to coolly bring Chelsea levelCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Lampard’s first choice team has won eight of their previous nine. It wasn’t much to ask the reserves and wannabes to see off a bunch of Russian minnows who got tanked 4-0 at home by Chelsea the month before last.
Lampard is convinced that winning becomes a habit. But one that can be easily broken if the players take their feet off the throttle.
Played at the tempo of an exhibition match there was a sense that Chelsea were in cruise control last night.
Rather like Soccer Aid there was a sense that something funny might happen at any moment, like Bradley Walsh would come off the bench in his underpants.
And there were quiet sniggers when Krasnodar did go ahead, because it was you-know-who in goal.
Kepa was making his first Chelsea appearance since October 17 when he let in three at home to Southampton.
Prone to the odd error, the Spaniard has been watching Edouard Mendy show him how it’s done ever since with a succession of sterling performances in a hugely successful run.
Krasnodar’s 24th minute goal wasn’t his fault but that won’t matter. He is cast as a liability now regardless.
Billy Gilmour made his first start of the season for Chelsea in midfieldCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The Chelsea defence which was too slow to react from a surprisingly pacey move by the Russians down the right, from which Remy Cabella drilled a shot home just inside Kepa’s right hand post.
They held the advantage for less than two minutes. Tammy Abraham was manhandled on a darting run into the box and Jorginho – taking penalties in the absence of Timo Werner – cheekily clipped the ball in for the equaliser.
It remained a disjointed Chelsea performance for the rest of the night but what else could you expect from such a rejigged team?
There was a first start for Tino Anjorin, a Dorset-born winger with Nigerian heritage who has been with Chelsea since under-7 level.
The most celebrated appearance though was the return of midfielder Billy Gilmour making his first start since July and knee surgery.
The 2,000 fans allowed into Stamford Bridge sang his name as a warm welcome back to the elegant young Scotsman, who had his progress cut brutally short by the first serious injury of his career during Project Restart.
Assuring the world he feels back to his pre-op best, the slightly built Glaswegian had Chelsea’s first shot of the night when he turned outside the box and had a powerful effort forced wide in the eighth minute.
Gilmour is far too talented to remain this far down the pecking order for long.
He will soon be rising up the ladder again and if not, will be sent on loan to continue his advancement elsewhere.
Lampard was forced to call on some of his big guns in Werner and in-form Olivier Giroud to try to secure victory.
But despite bravery from the Russians’ keeper to stop Kai Havertz in his tracks and near misses for Tammy Abraham, Chelsea dropped points in Europe for the first time since their opening group game against Seville in mid-October.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
