OWNGHOULS

WITH friends reunited, the return of Frank Lampard delivered everything except another upset.

No wonder Chelsea’s fans can’t wait for the day when the ‘L’ plates are off and he is ready to take the reins.

It was just after 7.30pm when the man regarded by some as Chelsea’s greatest player emerged from the tunnel as a boss rather than the superstar who had scored 211 goals from midfield over 13 seasons.

Awaiting him in the Matthew Harding end were those Super Frankie Lampard banners, a mural bearing his image, his goals on the big screen, and an entire stadium singing his name. In the stands were his Dad, Frank Snr, uncle Harry Redknapp, ex-england team-mate Gareth Southgate, and Claudio Ranieri, the man who signed Lampard from West Ham in 2001.

On the pitch there was applause for Chelsea’s other two players, loanees and rising stars Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori. They’d been – unusually – allowed to play against their parent club with Chelsea keen to accelerate their development.

Intent on proving their Manchester United win was no fluke, Derby were in Chelsea’s faces from the outset and the goals soon started flying in. Derby scored the first three – just not all into the opposition net.

Five minutes in, defender Tomori had his head in his hands after slicing Davide Zappacosta’s cross from the right past his own keeper Scott Carson. Lampard responded with his arms outstretched, palms down, urging his men to calm down They did – and were rewarded in the 10th minute with an equaliser.

Tom Huddlestone robbed Cesc Fabregas in midfield, Gary Cahill slipped trying to reach his through ball, and Jack Marriott (below) finished calmly for his fourth goal in his last five games.

Another Zappacosta cross from the right forced another own goal, the ball this time going in off Richard Keogh.

But still Derby kept their nerve. Mount broke in behind from a throw, sent a low ball into the box, and Martyn Waghorn tucked it away.

The decisive goal came four minutes before halftime, Fabregas taking advantage of poor goalkeeping from Carson to score. Still Derby wouldn’t give up. And sub David Nugent almost forced a late equaliser, his clever clip hitting the post.

Lampard had his head in his hands. His team would leave as heroes. He is already a legend here.