FOR now, it seems Chelsea’s supporters will have to endure the uncertainty of following a club that’s going through a major transitional spell — suffering defeat at the hands of Bournemouth on Saturday.

Bournemouth, a side who came into this match on a dreadful run of form, again exposed the defensive shortcomings of Frank Lampard’s Chelsea. For them, things need to improve fast.

Dan Gosling scored the decisive goal with six minutes of the match remaining, awarded by the video assistant referee after an inevitable delay in play. Initially ruled out for what appeared to be an offside, replays allowed the goal to be overturned.

By that point Chelsea’s players looked out of ideas, devoid of energy and fight. And Lampard didn’t hold back with his post-match thoughts.

“In front of our home fans it’s clear now that we’re not playing well enough, not getting enough results,” he said. “We just didn’t get the fans excited enough.

“The fans shouldn’t be excited if we’re going to play 10 balls across the back four, they shouldn’t be. And that’s not the team I want to manage.

“I’m a Chelsea man and everyone knows that and I would be the first to say if the fans were flat.”

If Lampard’s men lose away to Tottenham on Sunday, they will enter the busy festive period having lost five league matches in a month.

Chelsea’s players looked tired throughout this match — and with their attacks easily repelled by Bournemouth’s back line, it was no surprise that the visitors scored when they did.

Eddie Howe’s side came into this clash with a host of injury problems with seven of the first string out. But they kept up the pressure and were rewarded when a defensive lapse allowed in Gosling to break Chelsea’s offside trap and loop the ball over Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Lampard had rung the changes by this point, making a series of tactical changes as well as a double substitution. On had come Matteo Kovacic and Callum Hudson-Odoi in a bid to inject some much-needed inspiration. But it never materialised.

The visitors saw out the remainder of the match relatively trouble-free as they collected their first win since early November. The Bournemouth boss praised the performance of his players.

“We just needed a slice of luck, for something to bounce our way,” said Howe.

“That could be the moment that turns our fortunes, gives us belief and confidence again. I saw in us a really good team in the second half.”