No Silva lining yet for Lampard’s defence
WEST BROM 3 CHELSEA 3
CHELSEA boast an impressive squad after their £ 200million spending spree but putting the pieces together is a tricky jigsaw for boss Frank Lampard.
While his side are showing plenty of firepower, the Blues’ defensive flaws remain alarming after just one clean sheet in 21 Premier League away games under Lampard.
He did not get any solution at the Hawthorns even after error- prone keeper and fall- guy Kepa Arrizabalaga was demoted to the bench.
Lampard gave a Premier League debut to experienced Brazilian defender Thiago Silva, 36, who has joined on a free from French title winners Paris SaintGermain. Silva was even handed the armband but contributed a howler for the hosts’ second as Albion scored three quick goals with their only shots on target. It left Lampard admitting that Silva is unlikely to be a quick- fix as he adjusts to English football and a ne new language. La Lampard, left, who later su subbed Silva, said: “He d doesn’t speak the la language very well.
“I am sure he will le learn quickly. Some pla players do speak langu languages that he speaks, French being a main one. If the language is a slight barrier, we need time to work.
“People are going to want to talk about the second goal and that is the nature of being a top footballer, which he has been all his career. But other than that we saw how he was with his leadership and qualities and we are going to see more of that. Thiago Silva is going to be fantastic for us.
“We will get a lot more from him as he gets fitter and the whole squad gets fitter.”
Callum Robinson fired in a left- foot opener after Albion latched on to a poor header by Marcos Alonso, who kicked the post in frustration.
Tammy Abraham and Timo Werner blew chances to level before Robinson then seized on Silva’s error to storm clear and fire in a low right- foot finish.
Remarkably, the hosts made it 3- 0 before the break from Matheus Pereira’s corner, which Darnell Furlong flicked on and Kyle Bartley prodded in. A double substitution at the break enabled replacement Cesar Azpilicueta to get the armband back off Silva.
The visitors took only 10 minutes for Mason Mount to pull a goal back with a superb shot from distance that flew into the back of the net.
Sub Callum Hudson- Odoi then halved the deficit with 20 minutes left after good inter- play with new- boy Kai Havertz.
Abraham capped an impressive comeback by tapping in after Mount’s shot was saved in stoppage- time.
Lampard was relieved but his stern face, lack of celebration and cool analysis made it clear he was far from happy.
He warned: “It is two points lost for us, which we will have to make up.”