Brighton's Tariq Lamptey returns to Chelsea on anniversary

There could be no better place to mark the anniversary – by going back to his old club.

The unknown prospect Frank Lampard did not want to lose returns to Stamford Bridge as part of an Albion squad looking to secure the club’s first league win against Chelsea.

They do so on the back of a 2-0 victory at home to Brentford in which we maybe saw, if not a different side to Lamptey’s game, then a different emphasis.

Two years ago today, Albion were reflecting on another solid 2-0 success at the Amex.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Aaron Mooy had produced fine finishes to see off Bournemouth the previous afternoon.

As they put their feet up, the Sunday offering on Sky Sports was Mikel Arteta’s first home game in charge of Arsenal, versus Chelsea.

Suitably fired up, the Gunners tore into their London rivals and led 1-0 at the break.

The introduction of 19-year-old debutant Lamptey down the right changed the game.

He went on after a hour in place of former Albion loanee Fikayo Tomori, who had struggled out of position at right-back in the absence of Cesar Azpilicueta and Reece James.

Lamptey’s fearless attacking down the right quickly caused problems.

Within six minutes he had set up a good chance which Tammy Abraham could not convert.

Chelsea went on to win 2-1 with late goals from Jorginho and Abraham and boss Lampard had his arm around Lamptey’s shoulder as the visitors celebrated in front of their fans after the game.

Lamptey was not top of the media agenda as Lampard then took questions in his post-match press conference.

But, when eventually asked, he spoke at length about the him and revealed two of the figures who had shaped him.

Lampard said: “Tariq is a massive credit to Jody Morris and Joe Edwards.

“When we knew Azpilicueta has had a small injury and Reece James is injured and we were looking at options for right-back, right wing-back, they said, ‘Believe in him, trust him’ because they did.

“We felt it was the right time to bring him into the game and I think he was a real catalyst.”

Asked whether Lamptey had a big future at Chelsea, Lampard replied: “We will see because he is talking to a club.

“Hopefully he will feel a bit of love from today and the fact we have parachuted him in.

“He was on his Christmas break and we called him in yesterday and he trained and played.

“I had seen him before. When I was doing my coaching badges I did a lot of hours with the academy and the youth team and I saw him train a lot.

“I know he has got a different dimension as a right-sided full-back or wing-back.

“Pace, low centre of gravity, he can go by people and of course he wants to work on his end product and all those last bits.

“My question to Jody when he came on was, ‘Has he got the confidence and the personality to deal with this?’.

“It was a tough game to come on, when there is responsibility to try and turn it.

“Jody was like, ‘Yeah, no problem’ and when he drove inside and slipped Tammy in, I thought it was a great example of someone coming on a bit fearless.”

Chelsea’s next game was three days later at the Amex so it is no surprise Potter was watching that win at the Emirates.

“I remember the game,” he told The Argus.

“But we were obviously aware of him anyway.

“The recruitment team were aware of him and it’s obviously a process of a few things.

“But since he has been here he has been great.

“Everybody loves him here at the club.

“Great lad, does his best. He is a bit of a dream really as a player.”

As at Chelsea, Lamptey made a quick impact once handed his Albion debut.

He dazzled on the right on that first night at Leicester in the Restart fixture.

When he came back from his ten-month absence due to hamstring trouble, Potter played him essentially as a winger.

That gave chance to show his attacking skill without having to work the full right flank.

Many observers believe he is at his best at wing-back with room to attack.

But Albion have been more of a back four of late and Lamptey did a solid job as an orthodox right-back when a clean sheet was completed against Brentford.

Potter said: “What his strengths are, we want to get him to do that as much as possible.

“It’s not quite so easy to get a right-back to get the back line like he does.

“But I thought he contributed again to the team performance, probably not his most effective in terms of final third stuff and assists, but you can’t ask that every week.

“He is still growing and growing and developing as a player and we are delighted with him.”

Lamptey looked to be limping slightly as he departed the Amex late on Sunday.

It might have been a minor knock or just fatigue. Both would be understandable.

But there is only one place he will hope to spend this anniversary.

On the pitch of the club who gave him his chance.

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