Lay off Lampard - Wilkins

Former England captain Ray Wilkins has called for the fans to stop making Frank Lampard an international scapegoat.

Lampard, who was booed throughout last week's 1-1 friendly draw with Brazil, has gone on the record to dismiss the cat-calls as "part of playing for England" but former Stamford Bridge favourite Wilkins, who won 84 caps from 1976 to 1986, wanted a swift end to the abuse.

He said: "I just can't understand it. He runs around, works hard and is a player of quality. I find it much too negative as it is difficult enough to play against anyone at international level let alone Brazil. We should all get behind them 100%."

Wilkins, who is no stranger himself to criticism as he had to endure the wrath of the fans following a red card against Morocco in the 1986 World Cup finals, knows Lampard's displays in Germany last summer were a major disappointment.

The 28-year-old has found the net just once in his last 14 England appearances but Wilkins was convinced the root of Lampard's unpopularity could be found at club level.

He said: "The situation in this country at the moment is that everyone has an opinion on Chelsea - you either love them or hate them - and it is fact of life that not everyone in the country will like you.

"We have all had it and the only thing you can do is get on with it and show everyone just how good you are, which I am sure he will do."