MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 14:46:36| >> :60:441:441:
[monks data]
Attendance: 27,032
Norwich logo
Premier League | Gameweek 3
Aug 24, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

2-3

Cantwell (6'), Pukki (30')
FT(HT: 2-2)
Abraham (3', 68'), Mount (17')

Frank Lampard confident Chelsea strikers will start firing

Frank Lampard confident Chelsea strikers will start firing
© Reuters
The Blues' frontmen have yet to score in the Premier League this season.

Frank Lampard has backed Chelsea’s strikers to deliver in front of goal despite so far drawing a Premier League blank.

Olivier Giroud found the net in Chelsea’s European Super Cup loss to Liverpool in Istanbul, but the Blues’ frontmen have failed to hit the net in two league matches.

Tammy Abraham, Giroud and Michy Batshuayi are Chelsea’s three strikers for the campaign, with the club unable to add any recruits given their FIFA transfer ban.

And head coach Lampard insists he believes those three are all pushing each other hard at the Stamford Bridge club.

“As I said before, if we’d have been more clinical in front of goal we possibly could have had three wins,” said Lampard.

“The competition is there and that’s the challenge for the strikers.

“I’ve got no problems with their attitude and training. We work hard on the training ground as a team to create and also to finish. I used to love practising my finishing in training.

“What I have got is great attitude in the three strikers. But others in the squad also always want to stay out, want to work harder.

“Tammy’s goal goes in off the post against United, different story for him, different story for the game. But we can’t get too down about that, we’ve got to stay positive and it will come.

“We’ve got some great attacking players here and it will come.”

It's been a frustrating start to the Premier League season for Olivier Giroud
It’s been a frustrating start to the Premier League season for Olivier Giroud (David Davies/PA)

Belgium striker Batshuayi scored twice in Chelsea development squad’s 3-0 win over Liverpool earlier this week, but is still working towards full match fitness.

Lampard praised the 25-year-old’s showing in the reserves, insisting Chelsea need him to contribute at first team level this season.

“I thought it was a good performance and he got the fitness work he needed out of the game,” said Lampard.

“It was two good goals; two very good finishes. He worked hard and that’s exactly what the game was for.

“We need Michy, we need the competition up front. I thought the team performance was really good.”

Chelsea will head to Norwich on Saturday with Lampard not only hoping his strikers come good in front of goal in the league, but also that N’Golo Kante can shake off an ankle sprain.

Antonio Rudiger is not ready to feature this weekend as he closes in on a return after long-term knee trouble, but could be ready for the Stamford Bridge league match against Sheffield United on August 31.

Pedro missed training earlier in the week but was rested after a hectic fixture schedule and is expected to be fit to take on the Canaries on Saturday.

N’Golo Kante faces a late fitness test on an ankle injury
N’Golo Kante faces a late fitness test on an ankle injury (Adam Davy/PA)

“Kante has got an injury he has carried all week, so we’ll assess that over the next 24 hours,” said Lampard.

“Rudiger’s not fit yet, hopefully for next week. That’s the only changes from where we were last week.”

Asked if Pedro had an injury issue after missing training earlier in the week, Lampard said: “That was because we had, as we know, a busy week and Pedro contributed a lot physically, he had a couple of small aches.

“He’s trained the last two days.”

ID:368993: cacheID:368993:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9040:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Read more about Frank Lampard Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!