You rarely expect to see a football club in the same way as Chelsea at the wrong end of a real dub, but these things happen.
The history of the Blues is marked by sporadic thumps, although of course they have become less common since Roman Abramovich and his billionaires arrived in 2003.
But even in the modern era, Chelsea are still susceptible to an incessant disaster goal (see: 5-2 defeat against a terrible West Brom side 2020/21).
But what have been some of the worst defeats of West Londoners of all time? Let’s take a look …
Neil Webb celebrates one of his side’s six goals | Getty Images / Getty Images
Back in the mid-1980s, when Chelsea were in an embryonic stage of becoming a half decent side and Nottingham Forest were pretty good, the Blues took a rather historic hammering at the start of the 1986/87 season.
There is valuable little information available about this, only that Pat Nevin and the fantastically named John Bumstead were on the scoring side for John Hollins’ side, and they would continue to finish 14th in Division One – 13 points behind their strikers.
Stoke City and Chelsea meet back in the 70s | Evening Standard / Getty Images
The 70s were a strange time. Imagine the carnage these days if, in addition to a packed domestic and European schedule, League Cup bands went to as many as three replays before a winner was decided?
In any case, that was the situation in the football league tournament in 1974/75, and the third time they asked, Stoke City annihilated Chelsea with six goals to two to advance to the 16-year-old.
They would go to Ipswich in the next round.
#OnThisDay 1966, Rife 2, Fuste 2 and Zaballa score when Barcelona defeat Chelsea 5-0 in the Fairs Cup. pic.twitter.com/KgctzrvJcB
– Barça OTD (@barcaotd) 25 May 2019
Football used to be different in the 60’s. England would win trophies and the total draws over two legs in European competitions were decided with a third, final replay between the two.
However, after pulling 2-2 over both legs in the 1966 semi-final between the cities, Barcelona was not in the mood for another close meeting. They beat Chelsea by five goals to zero, with doubles from Joaquim Rife and Josep Maria Fuste, and went on to win the case straight away.
Peter Bonetti flies through the air during defeat | Keystone / Getty Images
Another dive back to the 60’s takes us as far back as the 1960/61 season, where a Bobby Charlton-led Manchester United ran up at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.
It was not a particularly memorable season for either side – in fact it was Spurs who would run off the top division crown that year, as Alex Ferguson’s glory days were still a blip on the horizon for United – but a goal from Charlton opened the lock gates for Alex Dawson and Jimmy Nicholson for to get another five between them.
It would not be long before Chelsea replaced their manager, as Tommy Docherty was appointed in 1961.
Cesar Azpilicueta apologizes to the traveling believers | OLI SCARFF / Getty Images
Chelsea’s latest absolute thump – at the time of writing – came from Man City during Maurizio Sarris’ leading season.
A catalog with errors from the Blues gave City the advantage, and the result sent the hosts to the top to win the title. Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling quarreled with a hat trick and a brace.
A young Roy Keane introduced to Forest | Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
The defeat against City was Chelsea’s biggest in any competitive match since this fateful afternoon towards the end of the 1990/91 season, where the famous / infamous Roy Keane opened and closed the score.
There would only be eight points between the two sides at the end of the season, but the result would start at the end of the season for manager Bobby Campbell, who was replaced next month.
Wolves were a formidable opponent Ron Case / Getty Images
Chelsea’s record heaviest defeat came at the hands of the Wolves, at the start of a season in which they were crowned in 1953/54 Football League First Division Champions – the first of three top division trophies they were to win in the 1950s.
It may come as a surprise to some to find out that Chelsea even existed in the 50’s – given that they have no history and all that – but they would finish eighth in the top flight that year.
