The first game of Frank Lampard’s second stint in charge of Chelsea ended in defeat thanks to a Matheus Nunes stunner.
Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge earlier this week, taking charge until the end of the season in a bid to salvage something following Chelsea’s struggles under the now-departed Graham Potter.
Chelsea started positively, however, it was hardly the bright dawn of a new era under the man who had been sacked in January 2021, with the hosts growing into the game as it went on.
Wolves went ahead just after the half-hour mark, as Daniel Podence’s cross from the left towards Diego Costa was cleared by Kalidou Koulibaly. However, the defender’s header dropped invitingly to Matheus Nunes who produced one of the strikes of the season – lashing home the dropping ball with a venomous volley from a narrow-angle.
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Chelsea came out with more intensity and purpose after the interval, though as has been for much of the season, the Blues really struggled in front of goal and rarely threatened Jose Sa’s goal, failing to produce a shot on target in the second half.
The result moves Wolves up to 12th, just eight points behind 11th placed Chelsea who are without a win in three, and speaking after the game, interim boss Lampard said he is looking to try to understand the ‘mindset’ of the team he has inherited.
“I thought the performance in the first half was 70% or so. It was enough for it to be an even game and there was a rocket from them out of nowhere,” he told Match of the Day.
“In the second half there was more energy, more chances and we got more people in the box. Maybe it was that feeling we couldn’t score. We have been working here for one or two days and it’s about getting an understanding of that and the mindset of the team.
“There has been a lot of change and that’s not an excuse but things need to improve and I think that performance summed it up. I have to get an understanding of it. When I say mindset, it’s not necessarily a negative. You have to get used to winning and make it a habit. Credit to Wolves today, they were physical and stuck in for a win.
“We will work and recreate. We will get into those positions and repeat it. Maybe there’s a feeling you won’t score. I’ve been there before and as a club we need to address it.
“It’s not where the club wants to be but it’s the reality and we have to work through it. You have to get to a point where you can move forward. We need to lift it more than we did today.”
