Frank Lampard’s ‘passion’ message to fans ahead of Brighton and Hove Albion clash

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is urging fans to get behind the team as they go in search of their first win in five games when they host high-flying Brighton and Hove Albion side.

Chelsea have failed to score in their last four games and are 11th on the league table going into the game at Stamford Bridge.

They also just lost 2-0 to Real Madrid in midweek and before that had lost 1-0 away to relegation-threatened Wolves in the league.

Lampard,44, who is the club’s record scorer has been drafted in to see out a season that started with German Thomas Tuchel before Graham Potter took over and lasted only seven months in the job.

Potter’s assistant Bruno Saltor then took charge of the game against Liverpool before Lampard was offered the fire-fighter job to try and rescue the campaign.

He admits in his program notes ahead of the Brighton game that the fans will be key if he’s to turn things around: “ The role is self-explanatory and I’m going to do my utmost best to deliver in these last weeks of the season.

“Now I want to make sure that we play with the passion, energy, and intent I know Chelsea fans love to see and we can do it together.”

The Blues will be without Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly who picked up a hamstring injury in Madrid and will miss the next two games.

Mason Mount though, could be involved in his first Premier League game since February after impressing in his cameo in the defeat to Madrid.