Lampard relief with goals
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Chelsea's two-goal hero Frank Lampard was relieved after his performance in yesterday's 2-0 win at Fulham.
Lampard admitted it was a huge relief to see his penalty hit the net against Fulham after missing three of his last four.
Lampard stepped up to fire home from the spot and put Chelsea on the way to three points against neighbours Fulham, who had beaten them in March.
The England midfielder missed a penalty against Charlton earlier this season and Michael Ballack took Chelsea's last spot-kick against Werder Bremen - but the German was suspended for the clash at Craven Cottage.
Lampard said: "A lot has been said about penalties, especially because Ballack took the last one and scored for us.
"But it's not important who takes them, it's important that they hit the back of the net.
"When we got it, I took responsibility and was pleased when it went in.
"There's always pressure and I suppose there's more pressure when you've missed the last one.
"It felt good to score two important goals because the game was very tight, a difficult one."
Lampard, acting captain in the absence of the injured John Terry, opened the scoring from the spot in the 73rd minute and added Chelsea's second to take his tally for the season to four.
Boss Jose Mourinho said: "The penalty came at a crucial moment, with about 20 minutes to go. It was a penalty to give us victory.
"He was playing so well, I felt he couldn't miss that one.
"Frank is at a level where he has nothing to prove.
"He has made himself one of the best players in the world, with his professionalism and quality.
"He missed a penalty but he is still one of the best players in the world.
"When you get to a level and do something wrong, you don't lose that level and that status."
Lampard admitted it was a huge relief to see his penalty hit the net against Fulham after missing three of his last four.
Lampard stepped up to fire home from the spot and put Chelsea on the way to three points against neighbours Fulham, who had beaten them in March.
The England midfielder missed a penalty against Charlton earlier this season and Michael Ballack took Chelsea's last spot-kick against Werder Bremen - but the German was suspended for the clash at Craven Cottage.
Lampard said: "A lot has been said about penalties, especially because Ballack took the last one and scored for us.
"But it's not important who takes them, it's important that they hit the back of the net.
"When we got it, I took responsibility and was pleased when it went in.
"There's always pressure and I suppose there's more pressure when you've missed the last one.
"It felt good to score two important goals because the game was very tight, a difficult one."
Lampard, acting captain in the absence of the injured John Terry, opened the scoring from the spot in the 73rd minute and added Chelsea's second to take his tally for the season to four.
Boss Jose Mourinho said: "The penalty came at a crucial moment, with about 20 minutes to go. It was a penalty to give us victory.
"He was playing so well, I felt he couldn't miss that one.
"Frank is at a level where he has nothing to prove.
"He has made himself one of the best players in the world, with his professionalism and quality.
"He missed a penalty but he is still one of the best players in the world.
"When you get to a level and do something wrong, you don't lose that level and that status."
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