Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins has dismissed defeat by Liverpool as nothing more than a blip and has tipped his side to bounce back and go on another long unbeaten run.
Xabi Alonso's goal for Liverpool inflicted the first defeat that Chelsea had suffered at Stamford Bridge in 86 League games spanning more than four seasons and while Wilkins says the atmosphere after the game was of immense disappointment he says they have the strength of character to help them go on another run.
Wilkins says that captain John Terry, who is celebrating ten years since his debut this week, at the club is a massive bonus as he is a strong leader who is able to help pick the players up.
The Chelsea coach said: "The atmosphere after the game was like a morgue; the players were very down because of the standards they set themselves.
"The disappointment was not that the record had gone, but that we had lost three points to Liverpool.
"John Terry is different class around the place, we need men around and we are lucky to have him.
"When you think about what happened last season, losing the Carling Cup final, second in the League and missing out on the Champions League on penalties, then Sunday was just a blip.
"They have shown their character in the past to come back from disappointment, so we know they can come back from this and go on another run."
Chelsea travel to Hull City next and while Wilkins has been impressed with Phil Brown's side, he believes it will be difficult for them to continue their run - which featured only one defeat - for the rest of the season.
He said: "It will be difficult for them to maintain their form because they play with so much energy and if you are doing that for 90 minutes week in, week out it gets hard.
"They have amassed 20 points so far and I am sure Phil Brown will be looking to get the next 20 points as quickly as possible and see them safe and then kick on from there.
"It is going to be a very difficult season for all the promoted clubs and the adrenalin rush at the beginning is immense, but it will be tough.
"However, they have demonstrated they can play and one defeat won't burst that bubble, but we are looking to inflict that defeat."
Xabi Alonso's goal for Liverpool inflicted the first defeat that Chelsea had suffered at Stamford Bridge in 86 League games spanning more than four seasons and while Wilkins says the atmosphere after the game was of immense disappointment he says they have the strength of character to help them go on another run.
Wilkins says that captain John Terry, who is celebrating ten years since his debut this week, at the club is a massive bonus as he is a strong leader who is able to help pick the players up.
The Chelsea coach said: "The atmosphere after the game was like a morgue; the players were very down because of the standards they set themselves.
"The disappointment was not that the record had gone, but that we had lost three points to Liverpool.
"John Terry is different class around the place, we need men around and we are lucky to have him.
"When you think about what happened last season, losing the Carling Cup final, second in the League and missing out on the Champions League on penalties, then Sunday was just a blip.
"They have shown their character in the past to come back from disappointment, so we know they can come back from this and go on another run."
Chelsea travel to Hull City next and while Wilkins has been impressed with Phil Brown's side, he believes it will be difficult for them to continue their run - which featured only one defeat - for the rest of the season.
He said: "It will be difficult for them to maintain their form because they play with so much energy and if you are doing that for 90 minutes week in, week out it gets hard.
"They have amassed 20 points so far and I am sure Phil Brown will be looking to get the next 20 points as quickly as possible and see them safe and then kick on from there.
"It is going to be a very difficult season for all the promoted clubs and the adrenalin rush at the beginning is immense, but it will be tough.
"However, they have demonstrated they can play and one defeat won't burst that bubble, but we are looking to inflict that defeat."
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