LAMPARD ORDERS RAMS TO SHOOT ON SIGHT
FRANK LAMPARD is urging his Derby players to be just that little bit more like him.
The Rams boss (left) wants his promotion chasers to shoot on sight – and deliver goals from all over the place.
Lampard knows what he’s TONY PULIS claimed he has statistics on his side as he answered criticism from fans demanding more fireworks at the Riverside.
Though Pulis is on course to guide Boro back to the Premier League, fans still aren’t happy.
But the Middlesbrough boss, preparing for today’s lunchtime clash with Derby, has called for patience.
“Average number of crosses per game this season? 25 – that’s fourth-best in the league,” the Welshman said.
Boro are second in the Championship so it’s perhaps no surprise that Pulis is irritated by having to defend his tactics.
The Teessiders may have scored only 16 goals in 14 Championship games but a tally of nine clean sheets is not to be sneezed at, and they have conceded just seven goals.
“To say we are not creating isn’t right,”
Pulis went on.
“I am on to the players about scoring goals, being talking about as Chelsea’s all-time record scorer with 211 goals and he is the only midfielder to score 150 goals in Premier League history.
Despite Wednesday’s 4-1 romp at West Brom, he knows Middlesbrough will be a tough nut to crack this lunchtime on calmer in front of goal. We have to give them (the fans) something to shout about. We have to give the fans something to get their teeth into. We have to make sure we are up and at it, and that we are having a go.”
No-one will be jeering on Teesside if Boro can clinch promotion. But fans these days are demanding more.
Perhaps seeing dozens of goals in TV highlights shows skews the harsh reality of building a winning side.
Pulis said: “It is the world we live in. We are in a digital world where you can flick your channel and see loads of goals.
“When it is not going your way people have to remain calm, keep their feet on the ground, and plough through it. It is a tough league, the games come quickly.
“Everybody can be critical, Teesside. Lampard said: “I used to shoot from outside the box whenever I could.
“And I always encourage my lads to take shots.
“It’s no use having 70 per cent possession if you don’t get the shots in. I don’t care where the goals come from. To go and, yes, we can improve, but we have to have perspective.”
Pulis says there is not an outstanding side in the Championship and has vowed to keep Boro in the promotion hunt.
“There isn’t a great deal of difference between the teams up there,” he said.
“All are well-organised, powerful teams. It’s a tough league, more competitive than the last time I was in it, but we’ve had a good start.”
Pulis today comes up against Frank Lampard and is pleased the former England midfielder has dipped his toe into management.
He added: “Frank was an outstanding player and professional. He made himself one of the best in England and he will want to manage at the top level and be successful. We now have a little crop of players who want to be managers even though financially they don’t need it. Years ago you stayed in it because you knew nothing else.
“I hope Frank is successful. You want the best players having a go a it.” away to a club like West Brom and have 20 shots says a lot.
“I believe if we bring our game to the table we can go up against anybody in this league.
“Tony Pulis has been around for years and had great success at a number of clubs. I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”