The Rams manager spoke ahead of Saturday’s Championship trip to Villa Park.
Ahead of Derby County’s Championship trip to Aston Villa, Rams boss Frank Lampard paid tribute to his opponents’ fanbase and stadium after reminiscing about some of his own memories from Villa Park as a player.
One positive memory is regarding when Lampard matched and then broke Bobby Tambling’s record as Chelsea’s all-time top goalscorer thanks to his brace in the 2-1 Premier League win in May 2013, according to the Derby Telegraph.
At the other end of the scale, however, the retired midfielder broke his leg at Villa Park in March 1997, the then West Ham player having to be carried off on a stretcher after 31 minutes and being replaced by Rio Ferdinand.
Now in the dugout instead of the pitch, Lampard’s job will be to get his ailing Rams side back on track following two consecutive defeats and a draw before then, with their Championship playoff hopes still very much alive as they are just two points adrift of sixth-placed Bristol City.
Speaking ahead of kickoff, Lampard is quoted by the Derby Telegraph as saying Villa Park is a “great” stadium before adding: “It is also a crowd and club that love their football, and have ambitions to get back to the Premier League.
“It is a big stadium, you feel it, you know it is a proper game when you go to Villa Park. I’ll enjoy that, but the players are the ones that have to stand up to that.”
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