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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; WIDTH: 180px; FONT-STYLE: italic">Lampard: Expects return to winning ways</DIV>Frank Lampard insists Chelsea are not facing a mid-season crisis and is confident the Blues can overhaul Manchester United in the title race.
The England midfielder believes the return of goalkeeper Petr Cech and skipper John Terry after injury will act as a massive boost in the bid to claw back the six-point lead currently held by the Red Devils.
Chelsea had to be content with a share of the spoils for a third-successive match - and failed to score for the first time this season - against Aston Villa on Tuesday night.
But Lampard feels the concern over Chelsea's blip is more a testament to the high standards they have set during the past two seasons rather than because of anything being drastically wrong.
Lampard said: "Ourselves and Manchester United know the situation now and there is still a long way to go.
"I am confident we can pull the gap back. There are many points to play for and we've got a lot of confidence in this team. That's the reason we've been champions two years on the trot.
"It is important we carry on doing the right things. Slight things haven't gone our way. You can't dwell on that. You just have to wait for it to turn a little bit and I am sure it will.
"People only get carried away because of the standards we have set for the past two seasons. It is quite normal to have periods in a season where it doesn't quite go for you.
"At one stage last season I think at one stage we were 15 points clear of the Manchester Uniteds and Liverpools and then all of a sudden we had a little blip and it was down to six or seven points at one point.
"You have to look at the big picture rather than just a few games. I think Sir Alex Ferguson as well as Jose Mourinho is wise enough to know there is a long way to go.
"The pair of them talk after games which gives out some headlines - but at the end of the day the football will do the talking."
Lampard added: "There is nothing major wrong. Sometimes you have to remind yourselves as a team that it is nothing major because the fact people are asking questions after two or three draws is a statement about what a team we are and what a squad we are.
"It is certainly not a crisis. It is something we need to address because we are not used to drawing games and not getting three points for three games on the trot.
"We are used to winning games and we want to win games again."
Terry will be back for Chelsea's next Premiership clash against Wigan at Stamford Bridge on January 13 with Cech available the following week for the trip to Liverpool.
Lampard said: "It is a great boost to have Petr back. For me he is the best goalkeeper in the world. Credit to Hilario for coming in but we've been unfortunate to lose two of the best 'keepers in the Premiership (Cech and Carlo Cudicini) for a long period of time.
"Petr coming back is a big bonus especially with the sort of injury he had (fractured skull).
"As regards to John, we all knew it was a short-term thing with his back. Psychologically it will be good to have him back. Who wouldn't want John Terry back in their side?"
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