Lampard: We can cope without Cech

The goalkeeper damaged a calf muscle after 30 minutes at Schalke and had to be taken off at the break as their seven-game winning run came to an end with a goalless draw last night.

Ups and downs: Petr Cech is put under pressure but had to go off after suffering a calf injury

He left the ground on crutches and will have the injury assessed today, but it must be doubtful he will get the chance to add to his personal run of shut-outs on Sunday against Everton.

Cech has gone five-and-half games without conceding and the possibility of having him and John Terry sidelined at the same time will bring back bad memories from last season when Chelsea's back line and title chances were undermined by their absence.

This time around, the captain is close to a full recovery from his knee problem and Lampard is confident that Carlo Cudicini will deputise ably in goal if called upon again anyway.

He said: "Carlo is the best reserve goalkeeper any club has got, without a doubt. He is basically a first-team player and it is only because of the way Cech has played in the last few years that Carlo has not been there.

"He has always been a top professional and, whenever he comes in, he always looks as sharp as anyone even though he has not played for a long time."

Cudicini had only previously featured for Chelsea in the Carling Cup this season and had to pick the ball out of the net three times against Leicester last week. He was twice saved that task last night by the woodwork and also saw Michael Essien head off the line as Chelsea rode their luck in an under-par performance.

Didier Drogba had a couple of good chances saved and Avram Grant's side had their fair share of possession but they were pleased to bag a point.

Although Grant's focus at Chelsea is to improve their attacking play, it will not be lost on him that Schalke clearly thought they were vulnerable to crosses and set-pieces.

The amount of time Drogba has spent isolated up front in their last two games should also be looked at, but the team's longstanding resilience will give him something to take from the game in addition to a point.

Lampard said: "You have to come away and dig in sometimes. These are the sort of things that make a good team — all teams need a bit of luck and resilience.

"You cannot be pretty all the time. We have won seven on the spin and you cannot keep playing better and better.

Petr Cech was forced off at half-time

"We didn't last night, but hopefully it is the result which will help us to qualify. Getting through in the Champions League can be a difficult and long process with a busy league campaign in between, where we have been trying to claw ourselves back into the title race.

"It is expecting too much for everything at the club to be perfect straight away after a change of management, but I don't think anyone is perfect anyway.

"I have seen Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool travel in Europe and have the occasional very tough game.

"There are certain matches where it gets difficult and you have to remember the goal is to finish top of the group and qualify. If you come out with a draw, sometimes you are very happy and that is us today."

Chelsea lead Group B by a point and go to second place Rosenborg for their next contest in three weeks time.

A win in Norway would see them through to the next stage but victory in their final group game at home to Valencia next month would also suffice.

Grant cannot afford to underestimate the dangers posed by Rosenborg, who won in Valencia last night. The 1-1 draw the Norwegians managed at Stamford Bridge in September was the final straw for owner Roman Abramovich and led to the axe for Jose Mourinho.

But, with hindsight, the draw does not look quite so embarrassing now. The European minnows are now looking good to go through with Chelsea.