Chelsea boss Frank Lampard says Tammy Abraham deserved to net the winner as Chelsea battled past Norwich 3-2 on Saturday afternoon. The Blues were forced to wait until the third week of the season for their first win of the campaign, and they grabbed three points in dramatic style.
Abraham repaid Lampard for his faith in youth as he opened the scoring inside the third minute when he fired home Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross.
Chelsea’s lead lasted just three minutes as Todd Cantwell tapped in at the near post after a Teemu Pukki cross.
Lampard’s decision to stand by Mason Mount was rewarded as well, as the former Derby County loanee then grabbed Chelsea’s second in the 17th minute.
Pukki scored his fifth of the season to draw the Canaries level, but it was Abraham that grabbed the headlines with his second of the afternoon.
Chelsea’s starting XI was their youngest in the Premier League since February 1994 and Lampard was delighted to see his players finally rewarded for their hard work.
He told BBC Match of the Day: “The two goals we gave away I didn’t like, but there were lots of good elements to our play, and I’m really pleased.
“I’m particularly pleased for Tammy, and he scored two good goals and the winning goal, but I want to talk about all the players today as we controlled the game on a hot day. “Our performances haven’t given us what we deserved so far – but today it did.”
The only downside to Chelsea’s victory was an injury to Mount late in the game as he hobbled off with a calf problem.
Lampard has confirmed the issue is just a knock and he is hopeful that he will feature in the next match against Sheffield United.
The Blades were beaten by Leicester City on Saturday and Chelsea will fancy their chances of recording back-to-backs wins for the first time under Lampard.
Abraham’s brace should also see him keep his shirt for next week, meaning Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi continue to wait in the wings at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are still looking to move on from their 4-0 defeat to Manchester United, but Lampard’s men have improved each week.
They face a tough few weeks after the international break, with Wolves and Liverpool next up.
