Calum McFarlane blasted Chelsea for their “unacceptable” start as they were blown away by Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
The Blues lost 3-1 at Stamford Bridge as their chances of finishing in the Premier League’s top five became a mathematical impossibility.
Their sixth Premier League defeat in a row started in calamitous fashion as they trailed by two goals after 15 minutes.
Taiwo Awoniyi headed home from Dilane Bakwa’s second-minute cross, before a foul by Malo Gusto saw Forest awarded a penalty which Igor Jesus converted.
That left Chelsea with it all to do and they were 3-0 down before they belatedly made it onto the scoresheet through Joao Pedro’s consolation goal, which was a stoppage-time bicycle kick.
“Really disappointed with the performance, disappointed with the result,” McFarlane said. “I don't think we ever got to our level today that we know we're capable of. So yeah, naturally very disappointing.
“I think the first 15 minutes was unacceptable. The manner in which the two goals were conceded has really set us back. It gave ourselves a mountain to climb.
“You can't do that at this level, especially against a team that's fighting for their life. That was pretty much, for me, something that we need to address and improve.”
The 38-year-old continued: “It is a ruthless game. It's a really high level.
“You cannot start games the way we did in the Premier League against a team of Forest's quality.
“All we can focus on right now and all I can focus on right now is [that] we're in tomorrow, we're training tomorrow. We'll review the game, we'll try and find the reason why and try and make sure that the performance level is of a higher level against Liverpool in five days' time.”
