Frank Lampard is not getting ahead of himself after his side’s 2-0 victory at Newcastle, saying “It’s pleasing but I’m not going to get excited to be top of the table for five minutes.”
An early Federico Fernandez own goal, and a late Tammy Abraham finish, from a fantastic Timo Werner assist, secured a game where only Chelsea’s complacency threatened the victory.
Lampard explained “Sometimes there’s a danger that sort of control becomes comfort.”
He was pleased defensively: “We can gain confidence from the clean sheets which we know have been problems for different reasons earlier in the season and parts of last.”
Werner missed some big chances, with Mason Mount saying “He needs to be harsh on himself to score those goals,” adding “I’m disappointed in my one as well.”
Steve Bruce regretted conceding early: “That’s the fourth or fifth time we’ve done that in the first ten minutes, which is not healthy in the Premier League.”
And he bemoaned Newcastle’s finishing without Callum Wilson: “We had enough opportunities, and it was one of the reasons we bought him.”
Bruce confirmed Jamaal Lascelles’ removal was “not because of his knee, when he ran on he felt his thigh,” but will not know more until Monday.
