Frank Lampard

CHELSEA will appeal over Frank Lampard’s red card against West Ham.

The Stamford Bridge club must lodge their protest with the FA by lunchtime today if they are to have any chance of the three-match ban being overturned.

Lampard was sent off after an assistant referee told match ref Peter Walton that he slapped Luis Boa Morte in the face.

Chelsea will argue it was a gentle shove in the chest and worthy of no more than a yellow card.

As long as Walton accurately recounts the same version in his match report, then the automatic red card will be downgraded.

Captain John Terry said: “It was very harsh.

Peter Walton is a very clever referee and very good as well. I’m sure he’ll look at it again.”

In the unlikely event that the FA deem the appeal frivolous, then Lampard could get a further one-game ban and miss the home clash with Arsenal on March 23.