Terry got the better of Lampard as the Villans and the Rams locked horns in the Championship playoff final.
Aston Villa assistant manager John Terry has piled the praise on former Chelsea and England colleague Frank Lampard after the latter got Derby County to the Championship playoff final this season.
The Rams boss embarked on his first managerial job last summer when he took the Pride Park reins and sealed a top-six spot in the league on the final day of the season, sealing a semi-final tie against Leeds United.
Prior to the second leg, no Championship team that had lost the first game at home had gone on to reach the final, but Derby made history in seeing off Marcelo Bielsa’s side at Elland Road to book a Wembley date against Villa.
In the end, the East Midlands side fell short as Dean Smith’s charges ran out 2-1 winners in the capital thanks to goals from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn, while Martyn Waghorn’s 81st-minute deficit-halver proved just a consolation.
Nevertheless, Terry had very kind words to say about Lampard and suggested his ex-colleague went above and beyond in getting Derby to within one game of the Premier League, while also praising another Chelsea old-boy in Jody Morris.
“It’s been incredible what he’s done there at Derby, I don’t think anyone would have put them back in the playoffs or anything this year,” Terry is quoted by Sky Sports News as saying.
“He’s brought a great team spirit, he’s obviously got a wealth of experience, he’s got Jody (Morris, assistant manager) who’s got a lot of experience in coaching as well. It’s just great to see young managers – Stevie (Gerrard), Lamps – getting the opportunities.”
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