The gallows humour from the away finish stated all of it. “We’re staying up,” sung the Chelsea supporters because the gamers went over to have fun this win over Bournemouth, the primary factors Frank Lampard has collected since returning to Chelsea.
It was a uncommon victory on the highway, the primary the membership have managed in 12 makes an attempt, a indisputable fact that house followers had been reminded of with chants of “how shit should you be? We’re profitable away.” The sarcasm is a sign of simply how far the membership have fallen on this most chaotic of seasons for the west Londoners.
They weren’t all the time in good spirits. There have been a smattering of chants towards proprietor Todd Boehly within the second half, while Lampard’s determination to carry on Raheem Sterling and Hakim Ziyech additionally obtained some jeers, although they had been full-throated in assist of Lampard himself.
“Our followers had been implausible as we speak and I personally admire their assist. I feel it’s good to have a second collectively on the finish to try to construct a connection,” stated Lampard.
“I feel their class is everlasting” stated Lampard of Ziyech and Sterling, after admitting that each gamers had struggled for kind this season. “I feel the entire subs that we made had an affect.”
“We’re glad, there’s little question. The gamers ought to get pleasure from it. It was very evident from coming into the dressing room that there was a number of selecting up that wanted to be completed however I do know that there’s an intention to get this membership to wherever it desires to get to once more.”
The rating line flattered them, although Bournemouth had been underwhelming having all however secured their very own Premier League future final weekend after beating Leeds 4-1.
“We had been nicely within the recreation as we speak, it’s simply actually dissatisfied we didn’t take something,” stated their supervisor, Gary O’Neil.
“I assumed it was an excellent contest. They took their possibilities in entrance of objective – that was the one distinction actually.”
There have been good particular person performances for Chelsea, however as soon as extra, the elements of the crew had been larger than the sum and if Mauricio Pochettino is the person to interchange Lampard then turning the unquestionable expertise at his disposal right into a functioning and cohesive collective have to be his precedence.
Benoit Badiashile, scorer of the second objective, was Chelsea’s greatest participant on his return to the aspect following harm and Lampard described him as “a giant expertise.” Noni Madueke additionally had loads of promising moments on the best flank earlier than switching to the left after which ultimately being substituted.
In midfield, N’Golo Kante and Enzo Fernandez had been largely dominant with Conor Gallagher, who scored Chelsea’s first, given a platform to play in entrance of them.
Most disappointing had been Kai Havertz and Mykhailo Mudryk, with the Ukrainian’s sole contribution being booked for diving within the first half.
Lampard appeared burdened by stress all through and stood for many of the recreation along with his arms crossed with out celebrating any of his crew’s three objectives.
The primary got here when as Gallager obtained between Lloyd Kelly and Adam Smith to move in Kante’s cross within the ninth minute. “We’ve scored a objective,” sung the supporters in shock.
