AVB: Franks so much, Lamps - 7M sport

AVB: Franks so much, Lamps



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Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 by The Sun

AVB: Franks so much, Lamps

ANDRE-VILLAS BOAS heaped praise on match-winner Frank Lampard after Chelsea's 1-0 win over Sunderland.

And the Portuguese believes the Blues hero has every chance of breaking the club's all-time goal-scoring record.

Lampard, 33, was in the right place at the right time for the ball to bounce off him into the net after Fernando Torres' superb scissors kick careered off the crossbar.

He is now just 12 and 21 goals, respectively, shy of fellow Chelsea legends Kerry Dixon and Bobby Tambling in the all-time list.

AVB, who this week insisted he enjoys a "fantastic relationship" with Lampard, said: "He will continue to threaten all remaining Chelsea records.

"He is almost within a 10-goal distance now from another Chelsea legend and it's good for him.

"Frank is always a player who has this amazing timing of arrival in the box.

"It's not coincidence that he's one of the best goalscoring midfielders in the world and his timing is magnificent."

The same cannot be said about team-mate Torres for most of the striker's Chelsea career, but he produced one of the best performances since last year's £50million move from Liverpool.

The Stamford Bridge crowd responded with arguably their biggest show of support yet for a player who is in the midst of another goal drought.

AVB, who is playing Torres during Didier Drogba's absence at the African Nations Cup, said: "He's getting his good run now of games, finding inspiration, finding motivation, finding form, has all the team behind him and has the fans behind him as you saw today.

"It's good to see that the player is picking up confidence, assisting people. He hasn't been scoring but is getting nearer every time.

"As long as he helps the team to win games, I think we are happy with what he's doing."

AVB confirmed Gary Cahill, who attended today's game, was set to complete his move from Bolton tomorrow.

He also hailed the return Michael Essien, who came off the bench to make his first appearance of the season following knee surgery.

Villas-Boas said: "To see a player that makes the switch so quick from a reserve-team game to full Premier League intensity in such a short time, it's amazing."

Frustrated Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill was adamant his side's penalty claim, for a foul on Nicklas Bendtner, was legitimate.

The Northern Irishman said: "I had a quick flash before I came out at ours and ours is obviously a definite penalty.

"I've been told, certainly, that the first one (on Torres) at our end is not a penalty."

O'Neill was even more upset about the opportunities his side squandered, with James McClean missing an open goal and Craig Gardner and Bendtner also snatching at presentable chances.

He blasted: "We missed at least five really good opportunities and I think that's too many.

"I know scoring a goal is pretty difficult but it's not that difficult.

"A blundering full-back could've stuck a couple of those in - from about four leagues below."

Insisting he would not panic buy in the January transfer window as a result, he added: "I don't think your immediate reaction would be to race out to get somebody who could score 20 goals. He'd only cost about £35million anyway."



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