FA Cup sponsored by E.On 5th Round: Watford v Chelsea, Saturday, 5.30pm
If there is to be divine intervention at the aptly named Vicarage Road when Watford play Chelsea in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, there is no question about who will be the beneficiary.
Any influence from above will be exerted by Pat Lampard, mother to Chelsea midfielder Frank and the late wife of Watford director of football Frank Snr.
"She would have loved to have been at this game," said the elder Lampard of his wife, whose death last April was as sudden as it was tragic.
"She would have been thrilled at the thought of the two of us involved in the same match on opposite sides.
"And there is no question who she would have wanted to win - young Frank and Chelsea!"
Chelsea star Frank has spoken many times over the last nine months about his devotion to his mother and the close bond between them.
Indeed, after every goal he scores the England midfielder looks skywards in an apparent act of dedication to her.
His father remains as keen as ever to keep a watchful eye on his son's fortunes, and has travelled thousands of miles over the years to see him play for club and country.
"It is a strange situation in this Cup game, no question about that," said the Watford Lampard. "I can't remember it happening too many times before in football.
"There was one occasion when me and Harry Redknapp were at West Ham, when Jamie Redknapp was at Liverpool, and they played us at Upton Park - but I don't think it happens often.
"From my point of view, it is a game I can't win and I can't lose. I would be delighted for Watford to go through, but I can't be anything but happy for Frank if Chelsea go on to win the FA Cup."
But the professional in Lampard Snr means that he has never lost his winner's mentality - and he will be plotting the downfall of his son.
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He went to the club with new manager Brendan Rodgers earlier this season, and feels progress has been made.
"Definitely," he said. "We lost 3-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers the other week but we played some terrific football, really good stuff. What Brendan is trying to bring to the club is beginning to work.
"We will be as thorough as we can be in our preparation."
To illustrate the point, Lampard revealed that Watford delegated a member of the coaching staff to watch Chelsea in Premier League action against Hull yesterday.
On the face of it, that could be regarded as just a tad superfluous. Rodgers left the job as reserve team manager at Stamford Bridge to take over at Watford, so his knowledge of the Chelsea players is already immense.
As is that of Lampard Snr, who has a close to 100 per cent attendance record in games involving the young Lampard.
"We know them inside out, but we are doing everything as normal," said Lampard Snr.
"And who knows? We might get the result that no one expects.
"It happened to me on a few occasions when I was at West Ham. And here at Watford we were leading against Tottenham in the Carling Cup at one stage and gave them a good game."
And Lampard revealed how he and his son were in conversation within minutes of the draw.
"He rang me and said, 'Tell your players not to pick me up when I make my runs'.
"I told him we will pick him up all right. And he may just end up on the ground as well!"
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