Chelsea was humiliated as workmanlike Sunderland defeated the champions 0-3 at Stamford Bridge to end the worst week of their season.
It started with defeat away to Liverpool followed by a less than convincing win over Fulham in midweek and then the unedifying and embarrassing dismissal of assistant Ray Wilkins.
This was a truly awful display which ended their eight-month unbeaten record at the Bridge.
The Blues had not even conceded a league goal on home turf this season and this was their worst defeat in front of their own fans in eight years.
Goals by Nedum Ouoha netting just before the break and then strikers Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck tucked home easy chances. Wellbeck’s goals courtesy of a byline pass from Ashley Cole last on.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti could claim that the Blues were without six players who might normally have been in the starting line-up.
But he has constantly said this season that he does not need to strengthen the side and has a squad deep enough to cope.
This performance shows quite clearly the squad is neither deep enough nor good enough.
Other matches went in Chelsea favour this weekend, notably draws from both Manchester clubs.
But with Arsenal wining 1-2 at Everton, Chelsea remains top of the pile by a measly two points.
Chelsea hammered this opposition 7-2 last season but looked a pale shadow of that side.
Chelsea lost captain John Terry before the game with a nerve problem in a thigh.
This left the already bereft defence with only one recognisable centre-back – Paulo Ferreira was drafted in beside Branislav Ivanovic and thus gave Sunderland the rare opportunity to play two up front and it worked a treat.
Chelsea could not muster any sustained attacks and set-up play was slower than an injured snail.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti said afterwards: “I had more confidence in Ferreira for this game, because I saw him in the training sessions,” he said.
Stating the obvious Ancelotti continued: “I was surprised because it was a strange result but the result is normal, we didn't play well.
“We didn't play a good game, Sunderland played a fantastic game with fighting spirit, more mentality and we didn't show this kind of mentality.”
So there you have it – it was all down to a different mentality – hardly surprising giving the attitude the club displayed to Wilkins.
Were the two events related? Well, they were but days apart.
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Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Cole; Ramires (McEachran 68), Mikel, Zhirkov (Kakuta 74); Anelka, Drogba, Malouda (Kalou 57).
Unused subs Turnbull, Bruma, Van Aanholt, Sala.
Booked Ivanovic 39,
Sunderland (4-4-2): Gordon; Onuoha, Turner, Bramble, Bardsley; Richardson, Henderson, Cattermole (c) (Riveros 90+4), Zenden; Welbeck (Elmohamady 90), Gyan (Malbranque 82).
Unused subs: Mignolet, Adams, Angeleri, Da Silva.
Scorer Onuoha 44. Gyan 52, Welbeck 87.
Booked Turner 28. Bramble 61.
Referee Chris Foy
Crowd 41,072.
Shots on Chelsea 5 Sunderland 9
Corners Chelsea 6 Sunderland 3
Fouls Chelsea 10 Sunderland 14
Offsides Chelsea 3 Sunderland 2