Frank Lampard called on his players to be forwards if they want to match Raheem Sterling’s two goals in the 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest and ultimately overcome the team’s goal-scoring woes.
Chelsea were booed at half-time against struggling Forest, falling behind Taiwo Awoniyi’s header after Edouard Mendy flitted off a cross on his return to the side.
Then it took just seven minutes into the second half for Sterling to turn the game on its head, reminding those same supporters of the potential the England striker still has to transform a game single-handedly.
His first was thanks to the good work of Noni Madueke and Trevoh Chalobah on the right and a lucky deflection from Ryan Yates who lay beaten on the turf, but his second was a superb solo effort, sending the ball into the bottom corner from Keylor Navas rammed after finding space in the box.
Lampard said Sterling’s example was one the whole team should follow going into next season if Chelsea are to put this miserable campaign behind them.
Frank Lampard says his Chelsea team must become ‘killers at the top of the pitch’
Raheem Sterling scored twice as Chelsea drew 2-2 against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge
Lampard called on his team to emulate Sterling (second) from the right after his performance
“Raheem is a player with credit on the bench, he scores regularly in the Premier League and for his country,” said the Blues boss.
“To see him score there (the first goal) was Raheem. Arriving for a cross, then individual brilliance to score the (second) goal. I am very happy for him. It’s what we need at the top of the field.
“Raheem did it and he produced it again. If you’re going to win games when you have 76 per cent possession, you need to be killers at the top of the pitch, and Raheem has proven to be just that. We don’t have enough of that at the moment.’
The draw means Chelsea are still without a home win since Lampard returned as interim manager on April 6 and saw them slide back to 12th place with Crystal Palace’s victory over Bournemouth.
Apart from Sterling’s solo intervention, there was little to indicate that the goalscoring problems that have derailed their season were coming to an end.
Lampard added: “What I liked was not so much the week-long training, it was more the idea of what the plan is for the game that we would have a lot of ball in their half so we need to be very dynamic to play . move their back five, we have to make sure our counter-press positions are good, which has to be fair.
“What I didn’t like was that we didn’t do it with enough urgency in the first half to break the back five; sideways, safe. In the second half, when we did that, we outscored them and got a goal and we showed urgency in our run-up and we got another goal.’
Forest kept themselves top of the Premier League’s four relegation-threatened sides, with Awoniyi’s second goal of the game in the second half stealing a point, leaving the gap to 18th-placed Leeds at three going into the final two games of the season.
“Probably a mix of a few disappointed guys in the dressing room, and I like that because although we had to work really hard for what we have today, we could easily have gotten a little bit more,” said Forest boss Cooper.
“It’s really the mixed feeling of that, and also knowing that we gave everything, we stuck to the plan, we showed good resilience going down 2-1, when I really wouldn’t say we owe it to Chelsea donated, but we could have done so much better with those goals.
Apart from his goals, there was little to indicate that Chelsea could score in the match
Sterling (right) has scored nine goals in 36 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this season
Taiwo Awoniyi (third from left) also scored two goals during the game at Stamford Bridge
“We knew Chelsea would have the ball, we weren’t at home. But the match went exactly as we wanted. So to turn it around quickly to go to 2-1 and then get something out of the game I think is a positive as well. There is a lot to get out of the game.
“It feels like we give away goals more easily than how we score them. Look at the two goals today, great strategy in terms of the set piece for the second, good technique for the cross and the head for the first.
“I’ve never had to question the attitude, the desire, the resilience, the commitment, that part of the mindset. Sometimes a little faith, and concentration, and a little confidence outside the home.
“That’s why sometimes we’ve had what we’ve had. It was really good after being 2-1 down to get something out of the game because I don’t think many would have supported us today to get something.’