Owen and Lampard contest goal

Michael Owen and Frank Lampard are at loggerheads over who should be credited with England’s third minute opener against Wales at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Lampard wheeled away in celebration after his shot from an Owen lay-off beat Wales keeper Paul Jones but television replays later showed the 20-yard effort had taken a massive deflection off the Real Madrid striker.

Referee Terje Hauge has given Lampard the benefit of the doubt but there was no unanimity between the players as they emerged from the home dressing room after the 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory each claiming they had scored.

“It hit me,” said Owen. “I was the last one it touched.

“As much as I feel for Frank, I have been in situations like this before. I have hit the ball, gone in off the defender and it’s been given as an own goal. It hit me, quite clearly took a massive deflection, so I have to claim it.”

If Owen’s wish is granted, it would be his 28th England goal, just 21 behind Sir Bobby Charlton’s overall record.

Lampard is only seeking his seventh but clearly believes he has a legitimate claim on it too.

“I claimed it when I scored as you could see from my celebration,” he said.

“It wasn’t until half-time that I found out it had flicked off Michael. But the referee is still giving it to me and, as we all know, his decision is final.”

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was reluctant to take sides in the dispute, which may have to eventually be settled by FIFA.

However, the Swede did admit it would probably mean far more to Owen to get it, especially given the forward’s poor form in La Liga since his summer move from Liverpool.

“I have heard the discussions about it,” he said.

“The referee gave it to Frank but I don’t know.

“In one way it is always better if you give it to a striker as they feel that they need to score goals to play well.

“But for me, it really doesn’t matter. All that is important is that it was a goal.”

Either way, Owen was able to reflect on a satisfying performance in which he cast aside many of the doubts raised over his form since joining Real.

He is even likely to assume the captaincy for Wednesday’s trip to Azerbaijan after David Beckham was ruled out through suspension and not even the autumnal conditions which accompanied his trip home could wipe the smile off Owen’s face.

“I love it in Madrid but just to come back and speak English with everyone again has been like a breath of fresh air,” he said.

“I have even enjoyed being back in the English climate and have the rain falling on me again.”

With seven points from their opening three qualifying matches, England are now in pole position to make it to the 2006 Finals in Germany, although Owen has been around long enough not to take anything for granted against the group minnows in Baku this week.

“They haven’t got the fanciest name in world football but neither have Macedonia and Liechtenstein, who gave us a hard time in the last lot of qualifiers,” he said.

“Wales drew with them away from home last month, so that should remind us what Azerbaijan are capable of.”