Frank Lampard hailed the "English core" of Chelsea after victory over Wigan Athletic.

"The English core of the team is still coming up with the goods because we love the club," he said. "People talk about our below-par performances at Man United and Liverpool as the ones which have cost us, but they wouldn't have mattered if we had picked up the basic points at home that we should have done.

"Considering the so-called crisis we have been going through, we are still second in the table and although we are a fair way behind United, we will keep going. They have been on a fantastic run and we have to believe they can't keep it going for ever. One day they may get some penalty decisions going against them at home and luck can change pretty quickly."