Chelsea’s fine start to the season has since halted as the Blues have lost four of their last five league matches.
Chelsea’s recent losses to Everton, West Ham and now the Cherries in the space of two weeks have seen Chelsea’s grip on top four now loosened as the top four race is now open for the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal to fight for.
Speaking after the defeat to Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, Lampard chose to blame his midfielders for playing too safe and the defence for conceding too easily.
“I am disappointed but I did feel before that I was guarded,” he said in his post-match press conference.
“Now we have the reality, if we are not at our best, if we don’t have enough then we need to find another way. “We need urgency in our play. Getting it through the lines. Don’t play safe, we played too safe.
“I don’t know about fear, in front of our home fans it’s clear we are not playing well enough.
“We are creating a lot but giving away silly goals. We didn’t create enough. We didn’t get the fans excited enough.”