Lampard: Sent off

Related links

Teams

• Chelsea

Players

• Frank Lampard

Also see

• Chelsea fixtures
• Chelsea stats
• Chelsea forum

Chelsea's Frank Lampard says he only has himself to blame after getting sent off late on in the 1-1 draw against Bordeaux in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

The influential midfielder had to walk after receiving a second yellow card in the 86th minute, which came three minutes after Alou Diarra's header cancelled out Nicolas Anelka's 60th minute opener.

While believing his sending-off was harsh, the experienced international, who was also booked in the first period, says it was his fault as he gave Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere the opportunity to show the red card.

De Bleeckere also showed yellow cards to John Terry, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and three of Bordeaux's players.

"I should have stayed on my feet considering the ref was giving out so many cards," reflected Lampard, referring to his second caution for a foul on Bordeaux midfielder Menegazzo.

Harsh

He added: "I thought it was harsh. It was probably my fault because I think the ref was wanting to give out cards all night, so I gave him the opportunity to do it again.

"It was never going to be an easy game, conditions, the Bordeaux team - massive game for them - so we have to get stuck in."

Bordeaux's equaliser came when Diarra was able to head home a corner unmarked.

Lampard added: "One-nil up, felt pretty comfortable actually. A set-piece done us, which is a shame really.

"We've been pretty tight on set-pieces this year, and we let the geezer get away and he scored."

The draw comes after the 3-1 defeat to Roma and means Chelsea must now beat Romania's Cluj at Stamford Bridge on 9th December to guarantee progression into the knock-out stages.

But they will have to do it without the suspended Lampard, who believes his team-mates can reach the last 16.

Believe

Lampard said: "We've got to believe in ourselves to beat Cluj at home, and there's no doubt about that.

"The group's proved to be tough, obviously since the Roma away game and then coming here. Two tough games for us and we haven't got the results we wanted. Now we have to produce at home, which we believe we will do."

Chelsea were also held to a goalless draw by Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday and Lampard admits the side are probably in a dip of form at present.

"Newcastle, we battered them and couldn't score, before that we won 3-0 at West Brom, so I think it's hard to go through a whole season performing at the top, top level," Lampard added.

"It's probably fair to say in the last week or two, we haven't been in the top, top level. But that's how football is.

"Today we got a draw when we maybe could have got a win. But looking back at this game, it was a very tough game."