Source: Daily_Mail
Jeers to cheers: Lampard 'stronger' having battled the Wembley boo-boys
Frank Lampard feels he is a stronger character for having to face the Wembley boo-boys. The unfortunate mantle that has previously belonged to John Barnes and Gary Neville now seems to have a new owner in Ashley Cole, with Stewart Downing not far behind judging by the mutterings of disquiet that rang round a near capacity stadium on Saturday when the Middlesbrough man was introduced. Despite Fabio Capello urging England supporters to stay solidly behind his team, it seems they just cannot get by without having someone to loathe. Standing strong: Chelsea's Frank Lampard believes he has been hardened by the experience of facing England's boo-boysFor a long time that man was Lampard, castigated for supposedly failing to produce his Chelsea form with an England shirt on. The 30-year-old admitted it was not a pleasant experience. However, going through it has had a positive side-effect. Clean up, lads: Lampard calls on pampered young stars to do dirty workEngland No 1 Rooney: I won't extinguish my passion and I'll never stop being a hot-headLampard backs snubbed Owen to prove Capello wrong and win England recall'The first time you get a bit of stick it does affect you,' he said. 'You are only human. 'Graduallyit becomes a lot easier to deal with. You start thinking it doesn'tmatter too much and concentrate on doing your job. 'It is not nice for anyone to take stick from their own fans, everyone sees that with Ashley at the moment. 'There were a few rumblings at the weekend and it doesn't help anyone. 'But it has actually made me a bit stronger for coming through it.' The turning point for Lampard has come with the rise in England's fortunes under Capello. Singled out: Lampard has urged England fans to support Blues team-mate Ashley Cole, who has come under intense scrutiny in recent internationalsAsthey overcame Croatia and Belarus in a four-match winning sequence atthe start of Group Six qualifying for next year's World Cup, so camethe recognition Lampard must be doing something right. 'It has been very rewarding,' he said. 'There are ups and downs in your career. You just have to try and overcome it. 'Now I just need to keep playing well. That's the only way people will respond in the right way.' IfEngland see off a dangerous Ukraine team - the only group rival theyhave yet to beat - tomorrow, it will not just be Lampard being feted. Good advice: Lampard insists Fabio Capello's tough-line approach is just what England neededDespitelast month's defeat to Euro 2008 winners Spain, it is obvious toeveryone that Capello's arrival has had a positive effect on theEngland camp. The Italian's clarity of thought has seepedthrough to his squad, leaving Lampard in no doubt the growing optimismsurrounding England is not misplaced. 'Looking back, Capello was exactly what we needed,' said the midfield star. 'We required a very strong leader who had his own mind. 'You can see that with Capello. I used to see it at Madrid. 'Hewould make strong decisions on players. They weren't always what peoplemight have considered the favourable, glamorous decision, but it wasfor the benefit of the team. 'Everyone has an opinion on England but we need a strong man who will not listen to anyone else and go his own route.' Clean up, lads: Lampard calls on pampered young stars to do dirty workEngland No 1 Rooney: I won't extinguish my passion and I'll never stop being a hot-headLampard backs snubbed Owen to prove Capello wrong and win England recall