Cops Used To Cuff Us But Now We Are Expected To Beat Chelsea Says Paul Lambert

Feb 24 2008 By Mark Guidi

PAUL LAMBERT found out the expectation levels at Wycombe when two fans refused to renew their season tickets because the club didn't beat Chelsea in a Carling Cup semi-final.

But the Wanderers gaffer allows himself a wry smile at the criminal lack of perspective.

In the 90s Wycombe were a non-league outfit struggling against teams like the Metropolitan Police until Martin O'Neill's arrival transformed them into Football League mainstays.

Now Lambert is the man charged with managing sky-high expectations at the club whose recent taste of the big time has left their fans desperate for more.

Wycombeheld Jose Mourinho's superstars 1-1 at Adams Park last term but were denied a place in the Carling Cup showpiece after Chelsea won the second leg 4-0.

Now those ultra critical supporters who have snubbed the team since then are set to miss out on seeing them win promotion from League Two.

Former Celtic and Scotland captain Lambert has Wanderers in a good position to go up and is desperate to wipe out the agony of last year when their promotion bid crumbled on the penultimate day of the season. Lambert said: "The fans have been good to us but some are not slow in letting you know if they're not happy.

"Our kitman Jim Gardner went in for an operation last year and the surgeon was a Wycombe fan. They chatted about football.

"The surgeon let Jim know he wouldn't be renewing his season ticket as he felt the team didn't play well enough against Chelsea.

"My goodness. It was only a few years ago this club was playing against the Metropolitan Police - and couldn't beat them!

"We're in a decent position to win promotion now but every team is capable of beating each other in this league. We came close to the play-offs last season and it was so painful to miss out.

"We're ready to give our all to make up for it this time. The top three win automatic promotion and that's our aim.

"I'd hate to go into the play-offs then miss out. Some managers have said it takes four months of the next season to fully recover.

"My biggest disappointment as a player was Celtic's UEFA Cup Final defeat by Porto.

Losing in the play-offs with Wycombe would be up there but I hope I don't find out."

Lambert's mentor O'Neill (left) put the club on the map, elevating them from the Conference to Division Two in his five years in charge.

His stamp was well and truly left at Adams Park just as it was at Leicester and Celtic.

Lambert smiled: "If you have players willing to run for you it helps win games.

Martin has had that at all his clubs.

"He is still highly regarded here and rightly so. He brought success to Wycombe and I want to do the same."

Lambert is building a good reputation down south and promotion will only enhance it.

He has bounced back after his disappointment as manager of Livingston and said: "That was a good experience.

"The players gave myself and Norrie McWhirter their lot and I wish it could have worked out better.

"But the fact it didn't never putme off management - it made me want to try again."

Lambert was desperate to sign Neil Lennon last summer - but didn't mind having to wait an extra six months to get his man.

Lennon joined Nottingham Forest instead but it didn't go to plan and the ex-Celtic skipper moved to Wycombe last month.

Lambert is delighted to team up with his old Hoops team-mate and said: "To get Neil is great for us. This time last year he was playing against AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League.

"Now he's here helping us push for promotion and has been terrific since he arrived."