London, Dec. 18 (ANI): Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has warned Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson that his old mind-game tricks won’t work on his team this time.

Fergie is trying to plant seeds of doubt in the leaders’ minds by insisting that his second-placed side will be on course to retain their crown if they remain on Chelsea’s coat-tails until the New Year.

But the 31-year-old England star reckoned that Blues are three points ahead of Fergie’s Red Devils in the Premier League title race, and it is Manchester United that should worry.

“It’s a mind game, as simple as that. If we’re in touching distance of them, then they might worry about us. They know we can put a run together as we did last year,” The Sun quoted Lampard, as saying.

“We know it’s a mind game. Fair enough, Manchester United have a history of doing it but we’ve had a history of getting it right as well. We’re very determined this year,” he added.

“We have to not get caught up in what other people are saying - we’re three points clear at the end of the day.”

Lampard scored a late winner from the penalty spot to earn Chelsea a 2-1 win over lowly Portsmouth on Tuesday. It ended a run of four winless games for his below-par Blues.

Lampard said: “I’m sure people would have been talking again if we hadn’t beaten Portsmouth but that’s why it was important to get that win.

“We’re having a patch at the moment where we’re not pulling away from teams when we might do and every free-kick and corner seems to drop to them in a funny way,” he added.

“We must just keep going. We’re three points clear at the top of the League. We need to pick up more wins.” (ANI)