Questions will be asked if Chelsea’s defensive woes persist after the West Brom horror show.

Kepa Arrizabalaga will not have had better days with Frank Lampard. At the end of a week in which the goalkeeper’s epitaph was written, the four Chelsea defenders did their best to fight their corner.

If anyone wasn’t sure how deep his defensive rot has taken hold, a calamitous 27-minute start clearly proved that Kepa’s flagging weaknesses are only at the top of a long list of problems.

There was nothing Willy Caballero could do to prevent Chelsea, who were gift-wrapping West Bromwich, from winning 3-0. A spirited comeback partially masks the cracks and illustrated why even the most expensive attack lines are only as good as the foundation below.

Questions will be asked about Frank Lampard’s Chelsea defense if problems persist there.

Kepa Arrizabalaga’s flagging weaknesses lie only at the top of a long list of problems at the club

If £ 22 million goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is going to make a difference, he and Chelsea technical adviser Petr Cech have a job on their hands. “We know we have had problems in the goalkeeping area,” Lampard said. “Having Petr training with them and bringing his experience is a great thing.”

Given that Lampard has played with some good defenders, such as John Terry (now coach at Aston Villa) and Ricardo Carvalho (assistant to Andre Villas-Boas at Marseille), would you consider using his knowledge to help your four defenders? “No,” Lampard said.

After this draw, the Chelsea manager deserves a bit of sympathy. First, Marcos Alonso’s risky header led to Callum Robinson’s first game. Then Thiago Silva’s strong touch gave West Bromwich a second before Chelsea suffered another technical problem when Kyle Bartley made the triple.

Willy Caballero could do nothing to stop Chelsea from wrapping West Brom to a 3-0 lead

Thiago Silva was a canny free signing but Chelsea have tried to spend their troubles

“You cannot legislate for sheer mistakes,” Lampard said. ‘You can do as many meetings as you want, but if you’re going to make those mistakes, you give yourself a mountain to climb. We were punished. We showed great character, but at the same time (3-0 down) it’s not a position you want to be in. ”

Lampard did little to mask his frustration with Alonso, who is surely walking the plank until left-back Ben Chilwell is in top form. Skipper Silva’s debut in the Premier League included a disastrous 45 minutes, but the 36-year-old’s pedigree should shine through as his English improves. “People are going to want to talk about the second goal and that is fair play,” Lampard said. “Apart from that, we saw what he is like, his leadership and his qualities.”

Silva was a canny free move, but elsewhere Chelsea have tried to spend their troubles. Still, Lampard asks for patience, insisting that injuries and a lack of preseason make his team need time. True, but eventually the excuses will run out and attention will turn to him.

Lampard did little to mask his frustration with Marcos Alonso, who is surely walking the plank

Defensive chaos has characterized his 14 months in office. In 21 Premier League away games, Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet, despite trying different personnel and formations. Or perhaps?

If problems persist, they will wonder if individual errors are a symptom of systemic failures; if Lampard, instead of his players, must take responsibility for their weaknesses and why they are not resolved in training.

The next few months should define the direction in which he and Chelsea are moving. If his new signings prove the calamity to be contagious, will Lampard change course again?

Perhaps then look up your address book and ask one of your old friends for help.