Lampard senior wants son to be on level terms

"How many FA Cups have you won? One is it? Well, I've got two!" The friendly jibe has rung around the Lampard living room for years now.

Today Frank senior fervently hopes junior scores a family equaliser by tasting victory in the final against Everton at Wembley.

Nothing would give Lampard senior more pleasure than to see his son add to the already glittering haul of medals he has earned than by winning this afternoon, because it will cap what his dad firmly believes is his finest season yet.

Frank senior won two Wembley finals, against Fulham in 1975 and Arsenal in 1980, when West Ham were then in the old second division, in one of the great final upsets.

He can recall both days clearly, and knows just how much it means to a player to lift the famous old pot.

Frank junior has managed the feat just once, when Chelsea last won silverware in 2007, beating Manchester United in extra-time thanks to Didier Drogba's goal.

It has been a barren and turbulent spell for the club since, with four managers passing through.

Lampard junior lost in 2002 against Arsenal, so he also knows the pain of losing when close to glory - a wound reopened by last season's Champions League final loss to United.

For dad, the cup is just about the only record he still holds over his son. In England caps, junior has 69 as opposed to two. League titles? Two to none. Goals?

No contest - although senior, a cultured full-back, did get the winner in the semi-final against Everton 29 years ago.

Games? Dad played 698, 660 of them for the Hammers with a swansong at Southend. Junior has 477 and counting, but he is catching up fast.

"Cup final wins are about the only thing I'm ahead of him on at the moment, " said Lampard senior. "But I won't mind a bit if he catches me up - and I think he will."

Lampard senior has always prided himself on being his son's harshest critic, keeping his feet firmly on the ground and his mind focused.

"He has been playing the best football of his career this year, " he said.

"Maybe it's because he's getting older now, but Frank plays the game more in his head now.

"He has got more aware, he sees the pass better, and more quickly. His quick passing is now a major part of his game. He still has the ability to get into the box and score goals, that has always been a key part of his game and always will be. But it's also his ability to create which has improved.

"I know he has been pleased with the number of assists he has been credited with this season, just as much as the goals. They are just as important. It has not been an easy season for Chelsea with the upheaval of changing managers, but his form has held up. He has been very consistent."

Junior maintained his form through the managerial switch from Luiz Felipe Scolari to Guus Hiddink in February, and dad credits the Dutchman for the subtle switch in tactics which have helped his son even more.

He said: "Hiddink pushed Frank a bit further forward in the set-up, so that he's just behind the forwards, and he prefers that. It has made a big difference. I know Frank desperately wants to win today. All the players do, to put a cap on the season and end up winning something."