Frank Lampard made a losing start to his return as interim Chelsea manager on Saturday, losing 1-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers and still outside the top half of the Premier League.
Matthews Nunes scored a screamer at Molineux in the 31st minute, the Portugal midfielder volleying the ball from the edge of the box on the right and Kepa Arrizabalaga heading into the far corner.
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The win took some of the relegation heat away from his side taking on Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui, who served a two-match ban for captain Ruben Neves, to move 12th and four points clear of the drop zone. Chelsea are eight points clear in 11th position.
Chelsea legend Lampard’s appointment was announced on Thursday as Graham Potter paid the price for a poor run of results that left the team in mid-table and heading into next Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final away leg at Real Madrid.
The club’s record goalscorer, himself sacked as manager in January 2021, received a warm welcome from the traveling fans as he took charge of his first match.
Lampard also has a clear picture of the task he faces in the remaining eight games, with a beaten Chelsea failing to find the net for the third game in a row.
Chelsea, still without the injured Mason Mount, had just one shot on target in the first half and looked lively after the break, unable to make their passes and possessions count.
They had no shots on target in the second half and played more games (30) than goals (29). They have just four wins in their last 21 matches.
Nunes’ first goal in the league since his club record signing from Sporting in August last year.
“It’s a good goal but I prefer to highlight the work of the rest of the players at different stages, their focus during this period and their belief in playing football,” said Lopetegui. “Today we deserved to win, it’s not easy.”
Lampard, who started Raheem Sterling and Connor Gallagher and brought on little-used Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a second-half substitute, said the first-half performance was “70% or more”.
“It was enough to be an even game and there was a rocket from them. In the second half there was more energy, more chances and we got more people in the box,” he told the BBC.
“There have been a lot of changes and that’s not an excuse but things have to be improved and I think that performance summed it up. I have to get the hang of it,” he added.
“You have to get used to winning and make it a habit. Credit to the Wolves today, they were physical and hung on to win.”
Chelsea issued a statement after the match condemning Molyneux by some home fans.
“The homophobic chants heard at Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea today have no place in football or society,” the Premier League said on Twitter.
“The Premier League condemns all forms of discrimination. Football is for everyone.”
