Caretaker manager Frank Lampard has insisted that he cannot criticise the effort of his Chelsea players despite the 2-0 defeat to Brentford.
Amid rumours that Mauricio Pochettino could soon be appointed as the club's next permanent head coach, Chelsea went into Wednesday's Premier League fixture looking to end a run of four successive defeats in all competitions.
However, the Blues ultimately succumbed to their fellow West Londoners, going down at Stamford Bridge through an own goal from Cesar Azpilicueta and second-half strike from Bryan Mbeumo.
As a result, any slim hopes of European qualification are now all but over, leaving Chelsea with just pride to play for during their final six fixtures.
Lampard is effectively tasked with trying to end a dismal campaign on a high ahead of Pochettino likely taking the reins from June onwards.
Speaking at a press conference after the match, Lampard praised the "application" of his players, although admitted that it could take time for his confidence-shy players to turn a corner in the final third.
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The Englishman told reporters: "Brentford will always make it difficult by turning you around and being dynamic. I'm not going to sit hear and bemoan the players, I've got sympathy for them.
"It wasn't an application issue. I think with 20% more confidence we win the game, no disrespect to Brentford because they can go with anyone."
Lampard added: "People will say there's not much on it (the rest of the season) but you have to be individually motivated and today I thought they were. You have to keep fighting for the turn.
"We played a back three in the first half, we're not effective in the top half of the pitch, the second half we're more attacking but then concede. There's a nature of them being down. We're doing everything we can to impact that."
Chelsea sit just two points above 13th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers in the standings, the target arguably becoming holding onto 11th spot rather than trying to chase down the six-point gap to 10th-placed Fulham.
Lampard's side are not back in action until May 2 when they make the short trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal.
Darren Plant
