Chelsea endure second worst start to Prem season of 17-year Roman Abramovich era with Frank Lampard under pressure

CHELSEA are enduring their second worst-EVER start to a Premier League season in the Roman Abramovich era.

Sunday’s 3-1 home defeat to Manchester City piled on the pressure for beleaguered boss Frank Lampard.

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Frank Lampard is overseeing the worst start to a season during the Roman Abramovich era at Chelsea[/caption]

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Only Jose Mourinho has made a worst start as Chelsea boss during the Roman era[/caption]

He has now lost four of his last six league matches, picking up just one win against West Ham.

Chelsea have slipped to eighth in the table as a result, having gained only 26 points with seven wins from 17 games.

That is the second worst start to a season during all 17 years of owner Abramovich’s Stamford Bridge reign.

Only during Jose Mourinho’s second spell in charge, in the 2015/16 season, have they had a worse start with Abramovich at the helm.

That year they had 18 points after 17 games, leading to Jose leaving for the second time in December.

And Lampard also has the worst average points-per-game during the Russian’s tenure, picking up just 1.67 points from 55 league matches.

That’s even worse than flops including Andre Villas-Boas and Luiz Felipe Scolari.

It now remains to be seen if legendary former player Lampard is given much more time in the job, with the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Max Allegri without clubs.

Reflecting on the defeat to City at the final whistle, Lampard told BBC Sport: “Mistakes, individual mistakes, not getting close enough. 

“They punished us. If you want to reach the top level which City have been for a few years now you have to accept the pressures. 

“The second half we competed but at 3-0 the game was pretty much done.

“I am not trying to talk up the last 20 minutes of the game because at 3-0 the vitals of the game have changed but I was still looking for a reaction.

“I am not putting ourselves down. I am the man to have the reality check and there will be work and at times pain. 

“Today was painful in the first half in football terms because their level of play show where we need to aspire to. 

“In the second half I saw a reaction but the work needs to be done.”

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