Frank: Don’t panic

COOL LAMPS

FRANK LAMPARD knows some of the critics think the wheels have come off at Derby.

One point from the last three games and defeat by their fiercest rivals Nottingham Forest on Monday has left the Rams struggling.

They will try to get their promotion bid back on track with a tough test at Aston Villa today.

Lampard said: “It’s a big match. We both need to win and we have to give everything to try to get a result.

“Things aren’t going well for us right now, but it happens – it’s commonplace in the Championship.

“It’s going to be a real test of our character and it couldn’t be a much more difficult place to go. In terms of quality Villa are right up there. Everybody seems to have this feeling that we are falling away when we lose. You can inflame an idea the more you talk about it, so I don’t want to dwell on it.

“There’s no magic wand but I’ve been in these situations before and I know that hard work and keeping focused is what gets you out of it.”

Lampard will bump into big mate John Terry at a ground which has special memories for him.

He said: “Obviously we talk a bit but we’ve not spoken about the game. I think that’s only professional.”

It was at Villa Park that Lampard became Chelsea’s all-time record goalscorer and he added: “I remember that. It was one of the best times of my career – a special moment

“It was a good ground for me as a player. Having said that, I broke my leg there when I was 17 so it’s not all good.”