Frank Lampard failed to leave the field with a win in his first game as Chelsea interim manager. The former midfielder had to acknowledge his superior in Wolverhampton Wanderers, which was 1-0 too strong in its own Molineux Stadium. Matheus Cunha was crowned man of the match after half an hour with a brilliant goal. A false start for Lampard, who must quickly collect the shards for the quarter-final of the Champions League against Real Madrid next Wednesday.
Wolverhampton Wanderers – Chelsea 1-0
Also under Lampard there seems to be no significant role for Hakim Ziyech. The attacker annex midfielder had little time to play under Graham Potter, but has not even been included in the match selection in recent weeks. However, there was once again a basic place for Raheem Sterling. Conor Gallagher was also allowed to show it from the first minute. They saw how both teams started the game expectantly. The first moment of excitement came from João Gomes midway through the first half. The midfielder seemed to be knocked down in the enemy box, but referee Peter Bankes did not agree.
Barely ten minutes later it was hit. A cross from the left side of the field could be headed away by Kalidou Koulibaly, but was then taken by Cunha, who brilliantly found the far corner: 1-0. Diego Costa had the opportunity to double the score not much later, but he failed to hurt his old team. In the second half it was also very poor what Chelsea from Lampard put on the mat. The best opportunity came five minutes before time from Christian Pulisic. The American screamed for a penalty kick, but Bankes did not want to take it in this case either.
Sven Botman booked a hard-fought victory over Brentford FC with Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.
Brentford v Newcastle United 1-2
Brentford started the game with Newcastle energetically, but was unlucky that an Ivan Toney goal was canceled in the early stages due to offside. The home team got another chance to score when Kevin Schade was knocked down by Sven Botman in the box. However, Nick Pope defused Toney’s weak effort. In stoppage time of the first half, Toney hit from eleven meters after Alexander Isak had made a mistake. Newcastle turned the tables after the break: A shot from Joelinton disappeared into the net via David Raya and Isak made up for his earlier mistake by hitting the winning goal in the top corner after an hour: 1-2.