Frank Lampard was unmoved when Conor Gallagher opened the scoring but Chelsea’s interim manager allowed himself the smallest of celebrations when João Félix stroked in Chelsea’s third goal with four minutes of normal time left to play.
Lampard clenched both fists and his assistant, Joe Edwards, gave him a quick embrace. Moments after the final whistle Lampard walked over to the away supporters who bookended this win by singing his name and offered them a thumbs-up.
It has been a testing few weeks for Lampard, who had been ridiculed after arriving in Dorset on the back of six straight defeats.
How this was a welcome victory, their first in 10 attempts, even if it was not exactly convincing . Benoit Badiashile poked Chelsea in front on 82 minutes before the substitute Félix completed the scoring on a dank afternoon in Bournemouth.