By Peter Fraser Last updated: 13th October 2008
Gerrard: Still to 'click' with Lampard
If the booing continues, it's not going to help Ashley or the team.
Steven Gerrard
Quotes of the week
Steven Gerrard admits that he is still struggling to 'click' with Frank Lampard in the heart of the England midfield.
Much has been made of the failings of the Gerrard and Lampard combination at international level as the pair labour to replicate impressive club form for their country.
However, Chelsea star Lampard produced one of his best performances in an England shirt in the World Cup qualifying victory over Croatia in September, with Gerrard absent due to a groin injury.
Gerrard returned to England manager Fabio Capello's first XI alongside Lampard for Saturday's victory over Kazakhstan at Wembley, but the duo again failed to produce a dovetailed performance.
And amidst speculation that he could be dropped for Wednesday's trip to Belarus, Liverpool skipper Gerrard confesses he has yet to form a perfect link with Lampard.
"Me and Frank have gone on record saying we haven't clicked," Gerrard told Sky Sports News. "We admit that.
"We are working hard on the training ground to improve. But it is a small part of the team.
"We have a good manager and we believe we are going places and we will take each game as it comes and concentrate on that."
Gerrard also recognises that no single player is guaranteed a place in Capello's plans, if the Italian opts to shuffle his pack for the clash with Belarus.
"Whatever we decide is down to the manager," added Gerrard. "He will use different personnel and formations."
After three games, England enjoy a 100 per cent record in Group 6 and are closing in on their best start to a qualifying campaign, but Gerrard is keeping his feet on the ground.
"We're not getting carried away," he said. "There are a lot of hurdles. We have three wins out three, but it (Belarus) is a difficult task.
"We realise it's a tough test, but we're ready. It's about us and how we play. We're confident we can make it four wins out of four."
Meanwhile, Gerrard has voiced his disappointment with England fans who booed Ashley Cole against Kazakhstan, but insists the Chelsea full-back is 'man' enough to maintain focus.
"If it continues, it's not going to help Ashley or the team," explained Gerrard. "He is disappointed and all the players are disappointed. But we're all men.
"You have to take it as a man. Ashley is a big character, he'll deal with it."
Cole has been sidelined for the meeting with Belarus with a hamstring strain and Gerrard believes his team-mate will be disappointed to miss out on the opportunity to prove his critics wrong.
"I'm sure he will be gutted he has had to go home," said Gerrard. "Any player would be who has missed England matches."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Liverpool vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs West Brom |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Man Utd |
| Sunday 23rd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Tottenham vs Blackburn |
| 16:00 | Sunderland vs West Ham |
| Monday 24th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Wigan vs Everton |
| Saturday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs West Brom |
| Sunday 30th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Man City vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Everton |
| 16:00 | Chelsea vs Arsenal |
| Monday 1st December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs West Ham |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 16th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Hull 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Saturday 15th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Newcastle 2 - 2 Wigan | |
| Fulham 2 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Arsenal 0 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Man Utd 5 - 0 Stoke | |
| Blackburn 1 - 2 Sunderland | |
| West Brom 0 - 3 Chelsea | |
| West Ham 0 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 0 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Man City 1 - 2 Tottenham | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 2 Middlesbrough | |
| Fulham 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 2 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Wigan 0 - 0 Stoke | |
| Sunderland 1 - 2 Portsmouth | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Bolton | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 West Brom | |
| West Ham 1 - 3 Everton | |
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