Lampard’s magic keeps Manchester City’s title hopes alive

Frank Lampard has influenced many a title race down the years, but usually tipping it in the favour of Chelsea.

Could though, his late equaliser – and perhaps ultimately his only goal – for Manchester City have kept alive a Premier League title race that looked to have tipped substantially in Chelsea’s favour?

Despite the early forays of Southampton and Aston Villa to the upper reaches of the table the consensus pick (apologies Arsenal fans) is that the 2014/15 race would be played out between City and Chelsea.

For City then to have been left eight points adrift just five games into the season would have presented them with a huge challenge to overcome.

Granted, the season is very much in its infancy but this is a Chelsea side with added potency and one, under Jose Mourinho, not susceptible to the level of points dropping needed for sides to overcome such margins.

Sport though has a wonderfully unique way of producing the sort of moments that can leave you scratching your head and wondering whether such scripted moments would even be plausible if you were to pitch them as the plot of a movie.

Lampard was introduced into the fray with little under 15 minutes remaining with City trailing 1-0.

A classic counter-attacking goal from Chelsea immediately took advantage of the sending off of Pablo Zabaleta, who became the poster boy of what was an inconsistent, some would say controversial, refereeing display from Mike Dean.

But City showed resilience in the face of adversity, not folding at a goal down and a man light but picking themselves off the floor to ensure Chelsea’s unbeaten start was checked.

As City pulled themselves back into the game it was Lampard who had a pronounced effect, linking well the excellent James Milner in an understated fashion.

Recycling possession allowed them to regain the control of a game they had previously enjoyed.

And as City pressed it would be the former Chelsea man who would have the last word, delivered in typical fashion, darting in at the near post to convert Milner’s cross.

Lampard’s ‘non-celebration’ was unexpected given his affiliation and affection for Chelsea, Jose Mourinho’s unemotional ‘I don’t talk about other teams players’ line post-game equally so.

It is four games without a win for City but they have brought to a close their early season ‘week of death’ having not surrendered any ground to either Arsenal or Chelsea.

When City announced the Lampard signing it was not without question, many wondering quite what effect an aging Lampard on the downside of his career could have on a City side in possession of such midfield talent already.

His impact on the pitch has been next to non-existent thus far, and it is difficult to see him getting regular minutes between now and January.

But after 147 Premier League goals for Chelsea, City will hope that one crucial moment against them will prove to be crucial over the course of the season when it comes to deciding the destination of the title.

Source: Mirror UK