Bournemouth vs Chelsea. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance10,357.
Match report and free highlights as Chelsea end losing run under interim boss Frank Lampard thanks to late goals from Benoit Badiashile and Joao Felix at the Vitality Stadium; Conor Gallagher had earlier given Chelsea the lead in the first half before Matias Vina equalised for Bournemouth
Sunday 7 May 2023 13:28, UK
Chelsea won for the first time since March 11 and ended their losing run under interim manager Frank Lampard by beating Bournemouth 3-1 at the Vitality Stadium.
Chelsea travelled to the south coast in danger of equalling an unwanted club record of seven consecutive defeats in all competitions having lost all six games since Lampard took charge at the beginning of April, but late goals from Benoit Badiashile (82) and Joao Felix (86) ensured that scenario did not materialise as the visitors earned a morale-boosting victory.
Conor Gallagher opened the scoring for Chelsea early in the first half with a precise header (9), but Bournemouth equalised when Matias Vina's brilliant strike found the top corner in the 21st minute. The in-form hosts, who had won six of their previous Premier League matches, then threatened to take the lead after the break but were left to rue several missed chances as Badiashile restored the away side's advantage before Felix put the result beyond doubt.
The win ended Lampard's own 10-match losing run in his 100th Premier League game as a manager and saw Chelsea finish the day 11th in the table, three points and three places above Bournemouth.
"I'm pleased for the players, the fans and the club," Lampard told Sky Sports. "Everyone is looking at Chelsea because we've been a huge success over the last 20 years, so people probably enjoy seeing us in a tough moment.
"This is one step in a good direction so we can be happy with that."
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard opted for five changes following Tuesday's tame 3-1 defeat at Arsenal, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling among those dropped. Bournemouth were unchanged from the 4-1 thrashing of Leeds.
Gary O'Neil's in-form Cherries began brighter but after Jefferson Lerma, who scored twice last weekend, curled narrowly wide, Chelsea snatched a ninth-minute lead.
Trevoh Chalobah's pass afforded N'Golo Kante time and space to deliver an inviting cross from the right wing and recalled midfielder Gallagher beat Adam Smith to the ball to divert a close-range header beyond goalkeeper Neto.
Chelsea supporters responded to the early breakthrough with humorous chants about avoiding relegation and "we've scored a goal" after seeing their side net for only the third time in nine outings. Yet they were not ahead for long.
Uruguay international Vina claimed the equaliser in the 21st minute, delightfully curling home from just inside the Blues' 18-yard box following slick interplay involving Ryan Christie and Dominic Solanke.
While Chelsea have endured a torrid season under their American owners, Bournemouth have gone from strength to strength since Texas businessman Bill Foley completed his takeover in December.
O'Neil's men, who won five games in April to banish relegation fears, remained relatively comfortable for the rest of the half, with Chelsea short of ideas and looking toothless in attack.
The visitors continued to control possession following the restart but the lack of creativity persisted. At the other end, Badiashile turned behind Dango Ouattara's dangerous low cross while lively winger Christie rippled the side of the net.
Lampard, who suffered Premier League and Carabao Cup defeats at the Vitality Stadium with Everton earlier this season, then saw his side survive a VAR check for a possible penalty when Thiago Silva slid in on Solanke before Vina was denied a second when his shot was pushed wide by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Ouattara should have given Bournemouth the lead 11 minutes from time when he somehow nodded over unmarked after Lerma headed a Lewis Cook corner back across goal. That miss proved pivotal as Chelsea grabbed the three points with quickfire goals in the closing stages.
Former Monaco defender Badiashile restored the Blues' advantage in the 82nd minute, connecting with Hakim Ziyech's searching free-kick into the box to volley beyond Neto and claim his first goal for the club.
Belated joy for Lampard was secured four minutes later as Felix found the net with a first-time finish after fellow substitute Sterling burst into the box and slipped the ball to his right.
Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard told Sky Sports: "It was a hard-fought win because Bournemouth are a good team and they can really be dangerous at any time in the game because of their speed, energy, and the players they have at the front of the pitch. That's why they've had a great season and they deserve huge credit.
"But we controlled elements of the game with our possession. In the first half, we got down the sides a lot and had lots of entries into the box. In a different moment as this team develops and we add to it, those can be the games you put to bed earlier.
"But when we don't and you're in this moment, you worry at 1-1. Maybe we deserved that stroke of luck, it was two good goals at the end - a set-piece goal and then Joao's goal to give us comfort.
"If confidence is higher and we're clinical at the top end of the pitch with our feeling, not just our movements, I think we maybe score more goals in the first half.
"We're happy because when you don't have that feeling for a while, it gradually knocks you down. Absolutely the players should enjoy tonight and have a beer or glass of wine or do whatever they do.
"But we cannot take our foot off the pedal in terms of trying to take steps forward until the end of this season because it's important."
Bournemouth head coach Gary O'Neil said: "I thought it was an even contest. There were lots of bits in it that I liked.
"When we were on top, Vina has a one-on-one where Kepa makes a good save, Kepa makes a great block from Dango as well from four, five yards out and obviously the massive chance, Dango's free header.
"If we get our noses in front then the game will probably finish very differently.
"I'm disappointed. We weren't clinical enough and then we get punished at the other end. We were well in the game up until that point."
Bournemouth travel to Crystal Palace next Saturday (kick-off 3pm) before hosting Manchester United on May 20 (kick-off 3pm).
The Cherries then make the trip to relegation-threatened Everton on the final day of the season (kick-off 4.30pm).
Up next for Chelsea is a home game against strugglers Nottingham Forest next Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
The Blues then travel to Manchester City on May 21 (kick-off 4pm) and Manchester United on May 25 (kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports) before hosting Newcastle on the final day (kick-off 4.30pm).
May 13: Crystal Palace (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Manchester United (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Everton (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
May 13: Nottingham Forest (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 21: Manchester City (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4pm
May 25: Manchester United (A) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 28: Newcastle (H) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
