Saturday’s 2-1 home loss was Lampard’s third defeat in as many games since his surprise return to the dugout as caretaker manager.
Lampard made six changes from the loss to Real Madrid and saw his team go ahead through Conor Gallagher’s deflected effort. But Brighton were far the better team throughout and ran out winners thanks to goals from Danny Welbeck and Julio Enciso.
Brighton fans delighted in Chelsea’s demise, singing “what a waste of money” at a squad that has been boosted to the tune of £600million since Boehly’s arrival.
Chelsea’s fans were similarly displeased with some voicing their anger straight at the American, who was watching from the director’s box.
As the clock wound down on Chelsea’s 12th defeat of the Premier League, supporters were seen venting their fury towards the club’s co-owner.
Lampard said of the fans after the game: “I don’t want to go ‘please come and support us positively’, I know they’ll do that. We have to play with that energy and fight. That’s the bare minimum.
“It’s up to us, nothing is on the fans for this one, it’s up to us as a squad in terms of the game on Tuesday [against Real Madrid]. From today’s performance, it’s clear … I’m not hanging the players out to dry because I see there’s talent in that room.
“It’s the Premier League so you have to have the extra bits and we were short of those today.”
