Chelsea extend lead after tale of two penalties

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard won't take any pleasure from plunging West Ham deeper into relegation trouble even though the former Hammers star faces another hostile reception at Upton Park on Sunday.Lampard has been public enemy number one in east London since quitting West Ham to join bitter rivals Chelsea for 11 million pounds (12.3 million euros) in 2001.The 31-year-old, who spent nine years at West Ham, has suffered vicious abuse from the Hammers fans every time he has faced his old club and he knows it will be no different this weekend.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard won't take any pleasure from plunging West Ham deeper into relegation trouble even though the former Hammers star faces another hostile reception at Upton Park on Sunday.Lampard has been public enemy number one in east London since quitting West Ham to join bitter rivals Chelsea for 11 million pounds (12.3 million euros) in 2001.The 31-year-old, who spent nine years at West Ham, has suffered vicious abuse from the Hammers fans every time he has faced his old club and he knows it will be no different this weekend.

Chelsea's Frank Lampard is convinced the English champions can retain their Premier League title if they reproduce the same level of performance as they did in their draw with Tottenham Hotspur.England midfielder Lampard returned from three-and-a-half months out injured in Chelsea's 1-1 draw with their London rivals at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Chelsea missed the chance to go top in the English Premier League after Didier Drogba saw a late penalty saved in a 1-1 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sunday.Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who'd let substitute Drogba's shot go through his hands for Chelsea's 70th minute equaliser, brought down Ramires in stoppage time.But the Brazilian then produced a fine save to deny Drogba, who took the spot-kick even though fellow substitute and regular penalty-taker Frank Lampard was on the field.

Frank Lampard scored four goals as Chelsea went top of the English Premier League with a 7-1 thrashing of Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.Victory was Chelsea's biggest win of the season, supplanting their 7-2 success over Sunderland, and and left the Londoners two points in front of Manchester United as they inflicted Villa's worst top flight defeat in 23 years.It also saw England midfielder Lampard take his tally for the season to 21 goals as he passed the 150 mark in all for the Blues.

Frank Lampard breathed fresh life into the Premier League title race as the Chelsea midfielder's controversial late penalty clinched a 2-1 victory over leaders Manchester United.Lampard's dramatic winner came after referee Martin Atkinson ruled that United defender Chris Smalling had brought down Chelsea substitute Yuri Zhirkov with 10 minutes to go at Stamford Bridge.It was a hammer blow for United, who suffered just their second league defeat this season despite taking the lead through Wayne Rooney's first-half strike.

Frank Lampard breathed fresh life into the Premier League title race as the Chelsea midfielder's controversial late penalty clinched a 2-1 victory over leaders Manchester United on Tuesday.Lampard's dramatic winner came after referee Martin Atkinson ruled that United defender Chris Smalling had brought down Chelsea substitute Yuri Zhirkov with 10 minutes to go at Stamford Bridge.It was a hammer blow for United, who suffered just their second league defeat this season despite taking the lead through Wayne Rooney's first-half strike.

Aston Villa failed to make the most of slip-ups by their Champions League rivals after a goalless draw at home to strugglers West Ham on Sunday.The point at Villa Park saw Martin O'Neill's men stay sixth in the English Premier League table, two places outside of the Champions League spots, after a Saturday where fourth-placed Tottenham were held to a goalless draw by Hull, Manchester City lost to Everton and Liverpool drew 1-1 with Stoke.Villa have now not won, and not scored, in the league since beating Stoke 1-0 on December 19.