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Frank
Lampard criticised his Chelsea players for not showing personality against
Bournemouth and claimed it was not a performance he enjoyed watching.
Chelsea rarely carried the required quality in the final third in their 1-0
home defeat to Bournemouth meaning Lampard's team have now lost four of
their last five Premier League games and are looking over their shoulders in
the race for the top four.
Scoring goals in front of their home fans in the Premier League is becoming
a problem for Chelsea with just 11 scored in their nine matches at Stamford
Bridge. In comparison, Liverpool have netted 26 at Anfield and Manchester
City 22 at the Etihad Stadium.
Lampard admitted he totally understood the fans' frustrations as he would
have felt the same if he was in the stands.
"In front of our fans we're not playing well enough and getting enough
results," Lampard said.
"Today wasn't a 'we've created a load of chances day' - we created two or
three great chances and we need to take them if we want to improve. But
today we didn't get the fans excited enough. The fans shouldn't be excited
if we're playing 10 balls across our back four. That's not a team I want to
manage.
"I'll be the first one to say when the fans were flat as I'm a Chelsea man,
but I wouldn't say that today. As if I was there as a Chelsea fan today I'd
be sitting there saying 'too slow - centre-back to centre-back, to
full-back, to centre-back, to full-back' and I don't want to come and see
that. I won't blame the fans. They come to support the team - they'll go to
Tottenham next week and then back here on Boxing Day. And some
responsibility is on the players to excite them and have the personality to
take the ball and beat someone.
"I can't find anyone wanting in terms of how we apply ourselves but what we
do on the pitch is the main thing, and at the moment it's not good enough."
Reality check for Chelea?
Just over a month ago, Chelsea's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace was their sixth
Premier League win on the bounce and gave them a healthy cushion in the race
for the top four.
However, subsequent defeats against West Ham, Manchester City and Everton
has put the door ajar for the chasing pack with the gap to fifth place
Sheffield United now just four points.
Lampard thinks the recent run of results comes as a bit of a reality check
for those who thought Chelsea could consistently challenge the top teams
this season.
"I was asked in press conferences when we were winning about how good we
were," he said.
"I was always guarded against that. Whether I've been proved right or not,
this is the reality. If we're not at our best and can't break teams down
with players not being able to do something to beat teams that are
organised, then we need to find another way. That's the test and hard work
needed for us.
"When you play against organised teams like West Ham, Everton and
Bournemouth, we need to find another way and we haven't been able to do
that. With that comes nerves and stress in the stadium and within the team.
We didn't deal with it well enough."
Howe: We needed that
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe - whose team was breaking a run of five straight
defeats - explained just how important a result this was for his struggling
side.
He said: "We needed that - it's the best we've fought and competed. And the
most desire I've seen from the group - I don't think there's been a lack of
effort but things have been going against us. We looked a threat in the
second half. Everyone gave everything.
"We're delighted the VAR call went in our favour. You are just waiting for
the decision - I was well aware of the importance of that moment. We needed
a bit of luck. It could be a moment to turn our fortunes around."
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