Chelsea’s Frank Lampard wary of threat posed by Fulham

Frank Lampard has warned his Chelsea team-mates that they will face a stern test of their title credentials at Fulham on Saturday.

The Blues travel to Craven Cottage looking for a victory to keep their place at the top of the Premier League table.

Jose Mourinho’s men have won eight of their last 10 top-flight outings to leapfrog Arsenal into top spot heading into the final 11 games of the season.

It’s a local derby and the fact they’re struggling might make it more difficult for us

Frank Lampard

And midfielder Lampard is hoping that the west Londoners will stay focused on the task at hand when they take on the Cottagers.

“It’s the crunch time when you need to get a winning mentality, a ruthlessness that whether you play good or bad you get results,” Lampard told Chelsea’s website.

“Against Everton we didn’t play particularly well but we had that bit of desire that took us over the line and we can’t lose that. If you sit off or relax for a game you’ll lose at this stage of the season.

“If you look at Fulham, they’re fighting for their lives so if we’re not at it they’ll get a result.

“It’s a local derby and the fact they’re struggling might make it more difficult for us because they’re so desperate for points, maybe it would be better if they were in mid-table and cruising.

“What we need to do is prepare; we can’t moan, we’ve got a fantastic, big squad, fit young players and we have to get ready and go again.

“We just have to get our league hats on very quickly and we got them on as soon as we got in the dressing room after the Galatasaray game. We prepare now for Fulham and go there with a real desire to win the game.”