Chelsea vs Luton Town, FA Cup fourth round: live score and updates

11:28 AM

Frank Lampard the fighter

Frank Lampard the Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard the all-time Chelsea scorer, Frank Lampard one of the greatest ever Chelsea players, Frank Lampard the man fighting for his job as Chelsea boss.

It was only a few weeks ago (December 5, to be precise) when the London club were sitting on top of the Premier League and Lampard the was seemingly on his way to being Frank Lampard the Chelsea coaching legend.

But fast forward six weeks and that has all changed. The west London side have lost five times in eight League games since their 3-1 win over Leeds took them to the Premier League summit and, such is modern-day football, people are now openingly questioning Lampard’s position as manager.

Lampard insists Chelsea can fight their way out of current malaise, starting today with a fourth round FA Cup tie at home to Luton. It marks the start of a crucial three-game spell, with successive home Premier League games against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley to follow.

Come through unscathed and Lampard will likely survive, but any unexpected defeat could prove fatal following the side’s fallow festive run.

“Fight is an important word in football, so there’s no doubt we have to put some things to one side now,” said Lampard. “It’s not going to be 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 that will win us the games we need to win in the short term, it’ll be the passion and the desire, and the togetherness of the team.”

“I’m a fighter first and foremost,” said Lampard. “It’s how I managed to make a career out of the game as a player. When I packed up, I could have easily stayed in the media or come out of football altogether.

“I didn’t need to get back in. I got back in with a desire to be successful. I didn’t have blinkers on. I knew that there will be tough times and things that you can’t control like you did as a player.”

So today it’s Frank Lampard the fighter and he and his side will have to avoid the potential banana skin of Luton to ensure Frank Lampard the legend can come to the fore once again.

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