Chelsea 0-2 Brentford: Azpilicueta own goal & Mbeumo inflict fifth straight defeat on Frank Lampard

Chelsea suffered a fifth straight defeat under Frank Lampard after losing 2-0 to Brentford in the Premier League.

The poor run of form continued since the 44-year-old was brought in on a caretaker basis as another goalless night for Chelsea ended in defeat as the Bees took all three points.

Cesar Azpilicueta gave the visitors a lead in the 38th minute after turning a Brentford corner into his own net.

Bryan Mbeumo doubled the lead 12 minutes from time as he fired past Kepa Arrizabalaga to seal the win to inflict more misery on the Blues.

In a Stamford Bridge which had plenty of empty seats as the 2022/23 campaign draws to a close, the start reflected the atmosphere in the capital. Flat.

Chelsea and Brentford both shared possession of the ball in the opening exchanges, and the only real highlight in the first 15 minutes was Ben Chilwell bursting forward after playing a one-two with Conor Gallagher, but his low ball into the box was easily cleared by Ben Mee.

Thiago Silva had Chelsea’s first shot on target. His tame header though from N’Golo Kante’s cross after 23 minutes was easy for David Raya who collected comfortably.

The visitors wanted a penalty just before the half hour mark. Vitaly Janelt played in Frank Onyeka, who went over following contact with Trevoh Chalobah but Andy Madley waived play away.

Enzo Fernandez tested Raya shortly after with a shot but it was comfortable for the Spaniard who tipped his strike over the bar.

It was Brentford who opened the scoring eight minutes before half-time. A corner was flicked on by Zanka, and it went into the back of the net off of Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta.

A dire first 45 saw Frank Lampard make changes at the interval as Chelsea searched for a leveller. Mykhailo Mudryk and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were brought on for Azpilicueta and Conor Gallagher.

Kante had Chelsea’s first chance of the second half but he could only flash his left-footed strike wide of Raya’s goal.

It was a brighter beginning for the Blues, with Mudryk showing glimpses out on the left-hand side. Tidy ballwork from Raheem Sterling created space for a cross, but substitute Aubameyang was unable to get clean contact on his acrobatic attempt. He then had another half chance moments later, having recovered from a slip, but could only strike straight at Raya.

Aubameyang proved to make a difference for the Blues. A cross was headed back across the goal by Sterling, but Raya came out to put off the Gabon international, who could only direct his header onto the roof of the net. The 33-year-old was knocking on the door, the chances were coming, but it was all too comfortable for Rata as he comfortably, again, saved just before the hour mark to keep the visitors ahead.

Rico Henry counted himself fortunate in the final 20 minutes at Stamford Bridge as Brentford continued to hold onto their narrow lead. Despite replays showing he headbutted Wesley Fofana, who didn’t go down, Andy Madley opted to only show a yellow card to the pair.

But it was Bryan Mbeumo to double the lead. He led a counter-attack, cut inside and fired by Kepa Arrizabalaga to make it 2-0.

Chelsea limped home to a another defeat as the winless run continued and the losing streak under Lampard also continued. Another rotten night for Chelsea in the capital, who will be desperately hoping the final weeks pass by quickly and without any threat of being dragged into a relegation scrap.