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Conte accepts selection mistakes as Chelsea play with 'fear' in Watford loss

Antonio Conte accepted he selected the wrong Chelsea team after Tiemoue Bakayoko was dismissed in a 4-1 defeat at Watford on Monday, saying the Blues played with "fear."

Bakayoko's red card — for two bookings in just five minutes — put the Premier League champions on the back foot, with Troy Deeney converting a penalty to put Watford ahead before the break.

Chelsea eventually mustered a response thanks to Eden Hazard's fine finish, but a late flurry of goals from Daryl Janmaat, Gerard Deulofeu and Roberto Pereyra wrapped up Javi Gracia's first Hornets win.

Conte's men were dire in a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth on Wednesday but this performance was as bad if not worse, leaving the Italian to accept he picked the wrong team.