Caretaker manager Frank Lampard has acknowledged that Chelsea's lack of intensity in the first half cost them as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest.
On the back of a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth last weekend, the Blues had some momentum as they bid to end a dismal campaign on somewhat of a high note.
However, despite dominating possession, they found themselves behind to a Taiwo Awoniyi goal before a quick-fire double after the break from Raheem Sterling put Chelsea in front.
A second from Awoniyi four minutes later got Forest back on level terms and neither team could find a winner during the closing 28 minutes at Stamford Bridge.
With Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United still to come, Lampard would have felt that Chelsea's best chance of another win under his guidance was against relegation-threatened Forest.
Nevertheless, Lampard felt that his players had to taken a portion of the responsibility having failed to move the ball fast enough in the final third, allowing Forest to sit deep with a back three and midfield five.
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Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Lampard said: "What I'm more disappointed about is what I referenced there, we lost 45 minutes in the game where we had all of the control but we weren't doing the things we were talking about before the game. It's not good to play at 60 or 70% in the last third. The last third has to be 100%, it has to be repetitive. That's not something that can change overnight.
"I've just been asked about what we do in training all week; it's not the training at this point in the season that is going to change this season and what these games looks like, it's the idea, sticking with the idea and doing it, doing it, doing it. In the second-half, where we changed bits of our game, it looked different. It looked like a game you'd want to come and watch.
"We were playing like we want the team to play, but you have to have speed in the final third of the game and at the moment, we're too comfortable getting up there and being slow and it's not hard enough to defend against.
"So that is a game for me with big possession where we should have more shots, be more clinical, have more killers, but at the moment that isn't the case."
Chelsea remain in 11th position in the Premier League standings, now only ahead of Crystal Palace on goal difference after the Eagles defeated Bournemouth.
Darren Plant
