Lampard denies Chelsea rift with Poll

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard insists the Barclays Premiership champions have no axe to grind with referee Graham Poll.

The World Cup official was criticised by Blues boss Jose Mourinho and defender Ashley Cole after he sent off their captain John Terry in a defeat at Tottenham last weekend, but Lampard was adamant there is no bad blood from the Londoners towards Poll.

“I will say nothing the next time I see Graham Poll,” Lampard told The Sun.

“There isn’t anything to say. We have to get back to playing football and there will be no need for me to say anything.

“Graham Poll came to the training ground pre-season and explained the new laws and we have no problem with him.

“A big decision went against us in the Spurs game and that’s it. There is certainly no grudge on our part and I’m sure there won’t be on his.”

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson insists the planned meeting between Mourinho and referees’ chief Keith Hackett after the Portuguese criticised Poll is “ludicrous”, but Lampard claims communication with officials is key.

“Referees say that sometimes players talk to them in a bad way but now there are times when a referee talks to a player in a bad way,” he added.

“When those things start to happen then the relationship starts to break down. It’s a two-way street.”