Lampard eases pressure on AVB

THEIR relationship has been far from affectionate, but Andre Villas-Boas owes Frank Lampard a debt of gratitude after the midfielder’s last-gasp strike eased the mounting pressure on his manager.

With just a minute of normal time remaining, Lampard, often downgraded from protagonist to supporting cast by Villas-Boas, spared Chelsea and their manager further strife with the goal which earned them a first victory in five Premier League matches.

Anything but three points would have been unthinkable for the 34-year-old, who awoke yesterday to further rumours of dressing room unrest over his tactics and man management.

Since the season-high triumph over Manchester City, Chelsea had claimed just three points from a possible 12, culminating in Saturday’s shock defeat to Aston Villa. So, the relief felt by the Portuguese here was palpable.

“Our best period of the season is three wins and a draw and it’s not good enough,” he said.

“We need to get a quick streak of wins. We have discussed it between us and I think we can correct it.’’

Although eight points off top spot having played a match more than the Manchester clubs, Villas-Boas backtracked on his previous claim his team are out of the title race.

“If we go on a winning streak of five or six games, which we are capable of, we can still be fighting for this league.”

Yet despite warranting this win, it was far from convincing — Stephen Ward having almost denied them after canceling out Ramires’ opener with just six minutes remaining — and Lampard admitted he was lucky escape a red card for a first-half lunge on Adam Hammill.

“My heart was in my mouth,” he said.

“There was honestly no malice butI was late and I might have beenlucky to stay on the pitch. I said straightaway to Hammill I was very sorry.”

Clearly, it will take more than a win at Wolves for Villas-Boas to win over the doubters. Although they were without the injured Daniel Sturridge and Didier Drogba, Wolves themselves made five changes to their ownpersonnel with Steven Fletcher and Matt Jarvis among those left on the bench, while Emmanuel Frimpong, the loan signing from Arsenal, made his debut.

Chelsea began purposefully and had a chance to take the lead in the ninth minute when a defensive mix-upbetween Roger Johnson and Christophe Berra saw possession gifted to Torres, who slotted in Juan Mata only for his clipped effort to be cleared to safety by Richard Stearman.

The Molineux crowd were incensed when Lampard received only a caution for a late lunge on Hammill, who himself soon earned a booking for a bodycheck on Ashley Cole.

Karl Henry, Kevin Doyle and Oriol Romeu all quickly followed earned yellow cards of their own as the contest descended into a scrappy affair.

It coincided with Wolves’ best period of the first half and they could count themselves unfortunate when Roger Johnson headed a Hammill delivery against the post, while Ward wasted an even better chance when he rose unmarked to meet another set-piece only to head wide.

It proved a costly miss as Chelsea took a 54th-minute lead. Juan Mata’s corner fell to Ramires 10 yards out and he cleverly spun Ward before firing a rising shot into the top-left corner.

Chelsea dominated possession but rarely looked like extending their advantage and they were punished by Republic of Ireland Ward’s strike with six minutes remaining.

Substitute Steven Fletcher attempted to strike Jarvis’ lofted ball goalwards yet instead it skewed into the path of the left-back, who drove a low shot beyond Cech.

However, Lampard had the final say on matters when he slid in to convert Ashley Cole’s cross from close range.

Another year, another important goal from the midfielder, yet when asked about the player’s contribution, Villas-Boas refused to single him out.

“I think the team did well, no matter who scores, the most important thing is for the team to find this consistency,” he added.

McCarthy, meanwhile, was incensed — but with his defence as opposed to the fact Lampard was still on the pitch. “I am livid we conceded the goal we did,” he said. “Whether Lampard should have been on the field is irrelevant for the defending. Defend the bleeding cross. I had a proper snarl in the dressing room because that is not acceptable for me. It was professional suicide.”

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Cech 7; Bosingwa 6, Terry 6, Luiz 6, Cole 7; Romeu 7, Meireles 7; Ramires 8, Lampard 7, Mata 6 (McEachran 83); Torres 7 Subs: McEachran for Mata (83).

WOLVES (4-2-3-1): Hennessey 7; Stearman 7, Johnson 7, Berra 6, Ward 6; Frimpong 5, Henry 6; Forde 5, Edwards 5, Hammill 7; Doyle 6.

Subs: Jarvis 7 for Forde (46), Foley for Edwards (76), Fletcher 6 for Frimpong (61).

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).