Last night, it was a real pleasure to see the return of domestic football.
Okay, the World Cup may have provided some relief during the domestic close season but, in my opinion, international football lacks the cut and thrust of the domestic leagues.
The fact that the first televised live game of the new season featured Derby County made the evening even more intriguing.
Derby County, as you’re all aware, have strong Chelsea connections with the legend that is Frank Lampard managing the side being ably assisted by Jody Morris.
Also, throw into the mix that our exciting young midfielder, Mason Mount, is on a season-long loan spell at Derby and you can see why there was such an interest in the game last night.
Travelling to take on Reading, Lampard would have been disappointed at the performance his side gave in the first-half, where it was clear that Reading were the better team.
The second-half saw Derby improve but they had to come from a goal behind to get the result Lampard craved for in his first game in charge.
Derby equalised when Mason Mount, in true Lampard style, drilled in a low shot from the edge of the penalty area, for his first goal for the club.
But, as the game drifted into stoppage time it looked as if it would finish all-square until, almost, the last kick of the game when a superb cross, from out wide, was magnificently headed home by Lawrence.
With the cameras cutting to the bench, Lampard showed just what the goal meant by hugging all his backroom staff and punching the air with delight.
The Championship season may be in its infancy and there may be a long way to go still but you show me a Chelsea fan who isn’t hoping that the legend that is Super Frank makes a success of this managerial lark.
Well done Frank from all at Vital Chelsea.