Chelsea looses again: 0-2 Brentford: Azpilicueta own goal and Bryan Mbeumo strike inflict more pain on Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard’s wait for a first Premier League win since returning as Chelsea caretaker manager goes on after Brentford secured a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

 

 

Lampard, Chelsea’s all-time record goalscorer, has now lost his opening five games in charge after Cesar Azpilicueta’s first-half own goal (37) and substitute Bryan Mbeumo’s deflected strike (78) extended the club’s worst run since 1993 in all competitions.

 

 

Lampard – who previously led Chelsea between 2019 and 2021 – re-joined the club on an interim basis until the end of the season following the sacking of Graham Potter earlier this month.

 

 

However, the 44-year-old has overseen Premier League losses at Wolves and at home to Brighton, plus defeats to Real Madrid in both legs of their Champions League quarter-final.

 

To make matters worse, Chelsea have only scored one goal under Lampard – a heavily deflected Conor Gallagher strike against Brighton.

 

Brentford made the short trip without a win in six, but having earned their first west London derby victory at their rivals in 83 years last season, this deserved success keeps their outside European aspirations alive.

The Bees sit ninth in the table – six points off seventh-placed Tottenham in the Europa Conference League berth – and eight points above Chelsea in 11th.

 

“It’s so nice to win,” said Thomas Frank after a 100th victory as Brentford head coach. “The interesting thing is that, in the last six games, I think we performed quite well. At least two, maybe three of the performances were better than the performance tonight.

 

It was a good performance and a well-deserved win, which is extremely impressive.”

 

Chelsea have far from lived up to expectations since their January transfer window splurge and on this evidence, a reversal of fortune under latest man-in-charge Lampard shows no signs of looming.

 

Here, an own goal helped decide a contest in which the hosts were again bereft of quality and confidence.

Lampard hasn’t exactly enhanced his reputation since taking the job for a second time. His last Premier League win as a manager was against Crystal Palace back in October. He has now lost 16 of the last 19 games as a manager.

 

Thiago Silva saw a tame headed effort initially spilled by David Raya but he had time to gather at the second attempt. There was no danger of a predatory finisher emerging from the shadows dressed in blue.

Enzo Fernandez was next to try his luck. The World Cup winner has completed more passes than any other midfielder in the Premier League since his debut in early February but his shot from N’Golo Kante’s pullback was too polite, and easily tipped over by Raya.

 

The home supporters responded to those efforts, but Brentford absorbed Chelsea’s brittle confidence with ease and started their celebrations long into the night after Mbeumo latched onto Shandon Baptiste’s pass, cut inside Wesley Fofana and pinged a shot off the heel of Silva and beyond Kepa at his near post.

 

When asked if he was surprised by the lack of a recognised Chelsea striker in their starting line-up, Frank added: “Yes, I was. I am pleased they showed us so much respect.

 

 

“It’s no secret that Chelsea’s not in the best place but it’s still Stamford Bridge, it’s still Chelsea and they still have unbelievable players. That we do it now two times in a row is remarkable in many ways.”