CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP H LACKS BITE

Sums up night of Euro misery for Lampard’s young side RATINGS

which just about typified their night.

The Blues’ early season promise and optimism was cut down by Valencia’s European pedigree and experience, and the winner arrived in the 74th minute when Rodrigo fired the visitors ahead, though they survived a late scare when Barkley missed from the spot.

Lampard (right) handed out three Champions League debuts at Stamford Bridge on a night he admitted would be highly emotional as he took charge of his first game in the competition.

Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Mount all started, although Mount’s night was cut short by injury as the newly capped England midfielder was forced off following a tackle after only 16 minutes.

Valencia’s former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin was booked for cutting him down with an awful challenge, which looked like it could have damaged the youngster’s ligaments.

Mount played on at first but soon went off, looking distraught as he was replaced by Pedro.

Mount has been one of Lampard’s star pupils so far this season and it will be a real blow if he is sidelined for a while – and it was clear that Chelsea missed him as soon as he went off.

Valencia, despite turbulence behind the scenes after the sacking of Marcelino – who has been replaced by Albert Celades – were finding too much space in midfield, their breaks and slick passing causing Chelsea problems at the back. The Blues, meanwhile, were feeding off half chances, with Abraham glancing a header wide and Willian skidding a low shot just wide of the post.

Willian skewed another chance over the bar and then saw a shot well saved, and the Brazilian looked Chelsea’s liveliest player in the first half. The second half saw more of the same, with chances at both ends but Chelsea struggling to stamp their authority on the game. Valencia’s No.9 Kevin Gameiro fired a shot over from a corner as the visitors continued to threaten.

At the other end, Chelsea were struggling to create chances as Marcos Alonso’s low free-kick went skimming towards goal before a good save from Valencia keeper Jasper Cillessen.

Finally, Lampard abandoned his back three formation as he took off defender Kurt Zouma to bring on Olivier Giroud to add some extra firepower.

But they were undone soon afterwards, conceding a goal with slack defending.

Daniel Parejo floated a clever free-kick into the box, Rodrigo ran free and then scuffed his shot past Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

You could hear the groans around Stamford Bridge, and there were more to come when Abraham’s header hit Valencia defender Daniel Wass’s arm, but Barkley – who refused to step aside for Willian to take the kick – fluffed his big chance. KEPA

Looked comfortable for most of the match, no chance with the goal

ZOUMA

His pace and power gave the Blues extra security in back three

CHRISTENSEN

Composed and confident in the middle, but missed late chance

TOMORI

His pace was often vital to clear danger and his header won the penalty

AZPILICUETA

More secure in a back three, and defended more than he attacked

JORGINHO

A brutal challenge for his yellow. Hardly made an impact

KOVACIC

Strong presence in midfield, put his foot in and covered ground

ALONSO

Got forward well and Blues looked more of a threat with his crossing

WILLIAN

Liveliest player for Chelsea and went close three times

MOUNT

Caught by nasty, early Coquelin challenge, which forced him off

ABRAHAM

CHELSEA VALENCIA