AVB lauds ´incredible´ Chelsea as O´Neill left frustrated

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas believes his players deserve the plaudits for ending Sunderland’s unbeaten run with a 1-0 win on Saturday.

Frank Lampard’s goal in the 13th minute of the English Premier League match at Stamford Bridge secured all three points for the home side.

The England midfielder was on hand to deflect home on the rebound following a Fernando Torres bicycle kick.

It was Sunderland’s first defeat from five matches in all competitions, and Chelsea’s win was all the more important after rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool both drew.

“For us to put an end to Sunderland’s amazing run of form, it would always take incredible effort from us and it happened,” Villas-Boas said.

“An important weekend for us bearing in mind the weekend’s results.”

Lampard’s strike was the 181st of his Chelsea career, bringing him within 12 goals of Kerry Dixon and 21 behind all-time leading scorer Bobby Tambling.

“He (Lampard) will continue to threaten all remaining Chelsea records,” Villas-Boas said.

“He is almost within a 10-goal distance now from another Chelsea legend and it’s good for him.”

“Frank is always a player who has this amazing timing of arrival in the box.

“It’s no coincidence that he’s one of the best goal-scoring midfielders in the world and his timing is magnificent.”

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill was frustrated at his team’s inability to take at least a point from the match after they threatened several times in the closing stages.

“We missed at least five really good opportunities and I think that’s too many,” he said.

“I know scoring a goal is pretty difficult but it’s not that difficult.”

“A blundering fullback could’ve stuck a couple of those in – from about four leagues below.”

“When you consider that Chelsea were overwhelmed at the final whistle, I suppose we take some sort of consolation.”