Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard says he his proud to be closing in on club legend Bobby Tambling's goal record.
Lampard's goal from the penalty spot in Sunday's win over Swansea means he has now notched 201 times for the club, just one less than Tambling's record.
It was also Lampard's 400th Premier League appearance for the club, as well as his 800th for all clubs combined, and he said it was an honour to be closing in on Tambling's record.
"Bobby's a gentleman. I saw him before and after the game, and you couldn't meet a nicer person in football," he told
Chelsea’s official website.
"He's been in poor health recently but it was great he could come across from Ireland for the game and I'm just very proud to be alongside a name like his in football terms, but also as a bloke."
Lampard was brought on as
a first-half substitute for Ramires, who suffered a dead leg, and he revealed that a combination of determination and energy helped his side power to what was a comfortable win.
"Our attitude before the game was
very determined, we were a little bit slow at the start of the game, but
there was a feeling within the squad that we needed to win, especially
with the games we have coming up, and we did the job," Lampard added.
"I was quite cold coming on, I didn't
expect to come on so early, but the manager wanted to up the tempo and I
thought all the players did that.
"We played a bit higher up
the pitch, had a bit more energy about us and started winning the ball
back from Swansea. We stopped them playing out from the back casually,
got on top of them and the goals came."
Lampard's goal against Swansea now means he becomes only the second player, alongside Andy Cole, to score against 38 different teams in the Premier League.
