Frankly, not good enough!
LAMPS IS CHASING WINS
BOURNEMOUTH ..2 CHELSEA .......... 2
DEFENDER Marcos Alonso scored twice yesterday as Chelsea grabbed a point at lowly Bournemouth.
And though boss Frank Lampard is delighted his left-back is finding the net, he wants more from his forwards to create a consistent culture of winning. He said: “We really are striving for a little run of form where it’s win, win, win.
“That’s where we haven’t been for a while.”
Bournemouth...2 Chelsea...2
FRANK LAMPARD was pleased that Marcos Alonso found the net twice to rescue a point for him.
However, he was less happy with the rest of the striking talent at his disposal.
This was another dose of the good, the bad and the ugly for the Chelsea manager who took a lead into half-time but needed a late intervention from the Spaniard to emerge with a share of the spoils.
Lampard said: “I’m very happy for Marcos but when I think my left-back is the man scoring the two goals – he also scored our last one in the Premier League – and that we have created so many opportunities, I have to question why we are not finishing them.
“We’ve had 23 chances, balls flashing across the face of goal, and enjoyed 73 per cent of possession – we have to stick these chances away.
“It’s been a clear part of our season. I’ve sat here and said it a lot. We play really well, create good stuff but need to find the net.
“It’s costing us in games. We go in at the break one-up then we should finish it off. We need to be more clinical at both ends.”
Leading scorer Tammy Abraham has travelled abroad for a second opinion on the ankle injury which continues to confound the club’s medics.
Lampard added: “Tammy’s gone to Barcelona for some other eyes on it.
“I’m hoping it’s not a long-term injury but at the same time I can’t tell you he will be ready for Tuesday or Sunday.”
Alonso found the net with that trusted left foot just after the half-hour and Olivier Giroud should have added a second but sidefooted the ball against his own ankle.
However, Bournemouth slowly got to grips with the task and Jefferson Lerma towered above the visitors’ defence to power in Ryan Fraser’s right-wing corner.
Then the left-side of Chelsea’s defence went AWOL, Jack Stacey moving forward with menace, taking a pass from Philip Billing in his stride and producing a low centre that was missed by Callum Wilson. Strike partner Josh King was on hand to roll into an empty net.
Five minutes from time, though, Cesar Azpilicueta’s ball into the box allowed Pedro to control and fire forwards only for Alonso to pick off the rebound, heading home his third in two games.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said: “I’ve got mixed emotions. I’m happy with the point but you are craving three points. We’re desperate for them.
“But we’re in a better place now than we were a few weeks ago.
“Our last five performances have been stronger and we’ve started to create chances and score goals from open play which we weren’t doing a few weeks ago.
“We’ve had players return from injury and that’s made a huge difference.
“It’s very tight but certainly I’m seeing signs that the team is in a much better place for the battle ahead.”