Frank Lampard expects Fulham to give Chelsea a tough battle in today's derby.

"It will always be a difficult game for us with Fulham being local rivals, and it can be especially tough at Christmas which is a difficult time in the season," he told chelseafc.com

"Regardless of their form in the past, they gave us tough games but at the moment they are getting very good results away because they are very organised and they are winning games at home."

Fulham's Boxing Day 0-0 draw at Spurs leaves them with the joint third best defensive record in the top flight.

"The fact they are not conceding many has got to be testament to their manager," Lampard reckons. "Roy Hodgson is very experienced, he has been all over the world, and he has got them organised not to concede but they have got threats up front as well."