Lampard blasts Fletcher over jibes

FRANK LAMPARD has accused West Ham midfielder Carl Fletcher of adding to the abuse he suffered from the home fans during the Barclays Premiership clash at Upton Park.

The pair were booked by referee Howard Webb moments after Marlon Harewood had cancelled out Lampard’s opening goal for Chelsea - his first against his former club since moving to Stamford Bridge in 2001.

Lampard was booed and taunted during the warm-up and throughout the game, but second-half goals from substitute Hernan Crespo and Didier Drogba ensured the England midfielder had the last laugh.

“Fletcher caught me and said something and there was no need for it,” said Lampard. “Sometimes when you go to that place and you are taking stick it is easy for players to react, to score a few points and I felt that was what he was doing.

“He came through me and wanted to say something to me and I was disappointed with that. It was an easy way out. I got booked pointing that out to the referee.”

But Fletcher denied Lampard’s accusation and added that as far as he was concerned their off-the-ball spat was all part of the game.

“It is up to him if he is disappointed,” he replied. “I am not sorry. Loads of things go on in the game.

“It was just a bit of football banter and we shook hands at the end.

“It is a tough sport, a man’s game and tempers get heated.”

Meanwhile the FA will not punish West Ham skipper Nigel Reo-Coker for the challenge which left Chelsea’s Ghana international Michael Essien unable to walk after the game.

Essien is waiting to learn the full extent of the injury but early indications suggest he has suffered ankle ligament damage that could sideline him for weeks making him very doubtful for the African Nations Cup later this month.

Essien had to be taken off on a stretcher after Reo-Coker’s 13th-minute challenge and, while referee Webb penalised the offence with a free kick, he did not caution the England Under-21 international.

FIFA rules dictate the FA are not allowed to review decisions using video evidence if the incident has been seen by the match officials.

An FA spokesman confirmed: “There will not be any disciplinary action because the referee dealt with the matter at the time by awarding a free kick to Chelsea.”

Essien’s injury, along with a hamstring strain for striker Crespo, could put further pressure on Chelsea’s resources but Iceland international Eidur Gudjohnsen, labelled the ‘blonde Maradona’ by coach Jose Mourinho after his performance against West Ham, says the players should be motivated for the challenge ahead.

“It will test the squad and it should be a challenge for the players who have not been playing that much to be ready and show what they can do,” said Gudjohnsen.

“When I played in midfield last season it worked well and in the last two or three games I have played really well. I want to be on the pitch and if you play me up front or in midfield I am happy.”

Meanwhile, Mourinho confirmed Lampard will be rested for the FA Cup third-round tie against Huddersfield.