The Blues were lucky to escape with a goalless draw against the Bundesliga side they had defeated 2-0 at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago.

Schalke hit the woodwork twice in the second half, while Chelsea's Didier Drogba squandered three gilt-edged chances to provide the visitors with another perfect European away day.

The German side halted Chelsea's run of seven straight wins under new coach Avram Grant but stand-in skipper Lampard was typically forthright about the outcome of a game which keeps the Blues on top of Group B.

Lampard admitted: "We were not at our best and Schalke had chances, especially at the end, to win. So we have to be happy with a draw.

"I think it says something about our resilience and there was a bit of luck as well. We didn't play particularly well and you need that at times.

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

"You cannot be pretty all the time and sometimes you have to dig in.

"We have won seven on the spin and you cannot keep playing better and better. We didn't last night but hopefully it is the result which will help us to qualify if we win our next game.

"It can be difficult and a long process with a busy league campaign in between where we have been trying to claw ourselves back into the title race.

"There are certain games where it gets difficult and you have to remember the goal is to finish top of the group and qualify.

"It is expecting too much for everything to be perfect straight away, and I don't think anyone is perfect anyway.

"Whichever team you go to, I have seen Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool travel in Europe and have the occasional very tough game.

"If you come out with a draw, sometimes you are very happy and that is us.

"It might be a good part of the learning curve, a reminder to us that after seven wins we needed a slice of lucky to get a draw and need to make sure in the next game we get back on a winning streak.

"It took a big effort to go on the run we were on but we are used to that.

"We are used to long, heavy seasons and have to be mentally strong.

"The manager thing has been and gone now and there are no excuses there. We have to look forward and I think the team was pretty fresh at Schalke."

The real blow for Chelsea was the loss of goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The Czech was forced out of the action at half-time with a calf problem he sustained in the opening period.

But Lampard was full of praise for replacement Carlo Cudicini, saying: "Carlo is the best reserve keeper any club has got, without a doubt.

"He is basically a first-team goalkeeper and it is only because of the way Petr Cech has played in the last few years that Carlo has not been there.

"He has always been a top professional and when he comes in he always perform. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the league, even though he is our second choice.

"It is very impressive considering how long he has spent in that position.

"Even as a goalkeeper, match play keeps you that bit sharper but whenever Carlo comes in - even though he has not played for a long time - he always looks as sharp as anyone."

Cech was set to have a scan on his damaged calf on Wednesday.