Wolves 1-0 Chelsea: Lampard Suffers Defeat On The Blues Return

Chelsea transitioned seamlessly from the Graham Potter era to the second coming of Frank Lampard with a defeat at Wolves. Bar a few tactical tweaks and personnel changes, it was the same meek and tired team that has plodded its way to mid-table mediocrity.

Even Lampard will have shown begrudging respect for Matheus Nunes’s ferocious winner in the first half but little else would have brought enjoyment on his return to the Chelsea dugout.

The fast-paced and short notice of Lampard’s appointment meant Julen Lopetegui welcomed the now departed “Bruno Saltor and his staff” to Wolverhampton in his programme notes. The caretaker stuck with Kepa Arrizabalaga, a goalkeeper Lampard replaced with the Molineux substitute Édouard Mendy in his first spell as manager, but dispensed with the three central defenders in front of him, selecting a back four instead.

One of the criticisms of the teams Lampard has managed thus far is that the defences are disorganised and leaky, meaning the opportunity to restart his Chelsea relationship against the joint-lowest scorers in the league seemed ideal. The fairytale enthusiasts among the away fans would have been worried to see Diego Costa start but, without a goal in 18 Wolves appearances, his threat has diminished since leaving Stamford Bridge.

There were no obvious early signs of the returning manager bounce; Chelsea offered no extra zip or threat, creating no chances of note in the opening half, instead looking like a team low on confidence and ideas. Although Chelsea controlled possession, Wolves did not look perturbed and were dangerous on the break.

In the Wolverhampton sunshine, the game offered the intensity of an end-of-season fixture between two mid-table teams. Considering this was the only chance for Chelsea players to prove their worth before facing Real Madrid, it was a tame effort