Why Frank Lampard needs to get used to sitting on the Chelsea bench and why Owen Coyle isn't under more pressure at Bolton

By Mark Lawrenson

Published 08:58 17/12/11

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Frank Lampard is now going to have to show what a professional he is by dealing with his relegation to the Chelsea bench.

That’s difficult for a proud player, but you can’t argue with the logic of what Andre Villas-Boas is trying to do. He has Ramires and ­Raul Meireles helping them get forward quicker now.

It is a different way of playing.

A lot of Chelsea's play has been set up for Frank in the past. But these two force the issue. They play at a greater pace and force ­opponents to get their heads down.

Yes, Frank has been amazing and has not been in this position before. He can still be a major player but has to swallow this and get on with it.

He is the sort who will go and knock on Villas-Boas’ door rather than mouth off or sulk in public.

Villas-Boas won’t give you any flannel. He will tell Frank how it is.

Chelsea have played well since beating Newcastle. Drogba, Sturridge and Mata are a great front three and depend on the midfield three covering the ground quickly.

It must be a little strange for Lampard having a manager who's the same age as him.

But at Liverpool, I played for Kenny Dalglish, who was only a few years older than a lot of us. We didn’t think, ‘What does he know!’

Frank has been a favourite for every manager who has come through.

This is the first time one has said: “You are not first choice. Your move.”

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It is amazing that Owen Coyle has not come under more pressure for his job at Bolton - after all, he’s on a much worse run than Steve Bruce was before he lost his Sunderland job.

Why is that?

Well, the debt at Bolton is around £90million and Coyle is on a good contract having being poached from Burnley, so will be due a big pay-off.

With Bolton, it is a case of holding on, hoping they will turn it around, because of the money angle.

It is interesting because so many clubs would have sacked Owen by now.

These are the most important couple of weeks of his career.

If they get done at Fulham on Saturday, they’re a game closer to relegation.

At some point the owner must be thinking: “Oh dear, this isn’t working.”

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