Frank Lampard compares first ever win as Derby manager to winning the Champions League with Chelsea
A 94th-minute header from Tom Lawrence complete a stunning 2-1 comeback win at Reading
FRANK LAMPARD celebrated a last-gasp winning start as a boss — and said it was as good as lifting the Champions League.
The England and Chelsea legend took charge of Derby for the first time last night and saw a 94th-minute header from Tom Lawrence complete a stunning 2-1 comeback win at Reading.
Lampard celebrated wildly with his coaching staff and substitutes and his Rams until 4:45 today at least are top of the Championship.
And having won the Champions League, Europa League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup — not to mention 106 caps for England — Lamps would know the feeling.
He said: “It’s right up there with what I’ve done in my career.
“I don’t want to get carried away as I know it won’t be like this every week, but in terms of that moment, it was fantastic.
“You work hard all week, you feel a responsibility for the team you put out and in your first game you’re fortunate it went in your favour. So it was great.”
It was going badly for Lampard as his Derby side laboured against an energetic Reading side that got right into their faces.
And Lampard was staring at defeat when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson headed in a deserved 52nd-minute opener for the hosts.
But 19-year-old Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount — who idolised Lampard as a kid — won the Rams a lifeline when his 25-yard effort somehow squirmed through keeper Vito Mannone’s grasp.
And Lampard played a blinder with his subs when he threw on Mason Bennett, who provided a cross of absolute class for Lawrence to nod the winner.
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The former England ace said: “We got back with a slice of luck but you make your own luck and I’m sorry for Paul Clement and Reading, who didn’t deserve to lose that game for sure but we made our own luck today.”
Although Mount’s goal was lucky, the way he played was very much in the Lampard mould.
Even though at times he was left frustrated, he showed he was not afraid to take on a shot.
And the Derby boss said: “Mason Mount has great quality, he has great energy and is going to get better but a young midfielder who wants to shift the ball and take on shots.
"It wasn’t going into the top corner and the keeper could have done better. But that got us back in the game.
“Then what Mason Bennett did in that game ... he came on and tested them behind the line and the run, the cross and Tom’s header was perfection and that deserves massive, massive praise.
“He has shown that in pre-season and I’ve been impressed with him and delighted with him.”
Asked what his half-time team talk was, Lampard said: “We needed more urgency. I told them it’s not the end of the world.
"This is the first game of the season and if we play slow and play into their trap of moving the ball too slow across their backline it’s not enjoyable to watch.
“I told them we can’t just keep playing. We needed to mix our game up. We needed to test their backline and we did that — and in turn got more room in midfield.”
Lampard was calm during 93 minutes in the technical area — and he said: “I’m not going to be a jump-up-and-down manager unless we score in the last second!”
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