The Blues need to beat Cluj to ensure they qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League and they will have to do it without the England midfielder, who is suspended after being sent off in the closing stages of their disappointing 1-1 draw with Bordeaux a fortnight ago.

Chelsea have already thrown away two chances to win the group and their home form has slumped with a draw against Newcastle sandwiched between defeats by Burnley and Arsenal.

The poor form seems to be a hangover from the end of their 86-match unbeaten home league record, which was halted by Liverpool's win at Stamford Bridge, but Lampard disagrees.

"The home form is a mixture of things," he said. "When teams defend deep, we need to find a way through. The Arsenal game was one of the most frustrating I have ever played.

"At 60 minutes, a second goal would have killed it and they looked dead and buried. I don't think they can believe they won that game.

"The away form has been fantastic but we cannot afford to keep the home form as it is now. In a way I am glad the record went, not to Liverpool because I'd rather any team did it than them to be honest, but last season it was hanging over us.

"It became a bit about keeping the record as opposed to three points and with the amount of games we drew last season, if we had won half of them we would have won the league. Our home form is just a patch we are going through where we are not unlocking the door.

"It is important that against Cluj, the atmosphere is big and the players stand up and act like men, getting hold of the ball and making things happen."

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari could also have Joe Cole back for Tuesday's match. The England midfielder has been struggling with an ankle injury since the Bordeaux draw.

Scolari said: "Joe could be fit for Cluj, he starts training on Sunday, so we will see."

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Petr Cech believes Chelsea still have enough power and quality to ensure they dispose of the Romanians.

"We need to win, we have to score a goal in that game," said Cech. "But at our home stadium we have an authority so I am not afraid that we will lose.

"Away from home you have to score goals also, and in Cluj we didn't manage to score a goal. There was a problem. And in Bordeaux, although we scored a goal, we conceded. And the result against Roma I don't even count (they lost 3-1), because it can happen to anyone, even though we had a good game.

"But with a home win we are there, so this is still the positive point."