Frank Lampard Goal Is Painful, but Chelsea Must Not Regret Letting Him Go

Super, super Fra—oh wait, it was at the wrong end and in the wrong shade of blue!

Frank Lampard's first goal for Manchester City had to come against Chelsea. It just had to.

The case of the ex—call it what you will—football has a habit of throwing up these plot twists. And when he replaced Aleksandar Kolarov late on, there was an air of inevitability that Lampard would have a significant role to play in proceedings.

Chelsea would have preferred that his goal came at a time when it meant nothing, when the game was wrapped up and three points were safely in the bag. Instead, Lampard reacted quickest to James Milner's 85th-minute cross to snatch victory from the clutches of his former teammates, in the process securing a deserved point for City.

"It's a really difficult one," Lampard explained to Sky Sports in the immediate aftermath of the 1-1 draw.

"

I'd be unprofessional if I didn't come on and do my job[...]It's a tough one for me as I had 13 amazing years with Chelsea fans, so I'm mixed. I'm pleased that the team I play for got a draw, so it's a really hard one for me to answer [how I feel].

I'm a bit lost for words. I didn't expect to come on and score like that.

"

Lampard silenced the Chelsea fans in a way he never has.

Up to that point, it was a party atmosphere coming from the Etihad Stadium's away end, the clock ticking down for a City team that—down to 10 men after Pablo Zabaleta was sent off for a second bookable offence—had struggled to draw level after Andre Schurrle's 71st-minute goal had given Chelsea the lead.

For all the cheers that came from around the stadium when Lampard's effort hit the back of the net, the stunned expression from Chelsea fans came in mourning that their hero had struck a dagger right in the heart.

It was akin to a wake, which is rather apt given the circumstances. The goal signaled so much more than a victory lost: It was confirmation, if ever it was needed, that the old era at Chelsea is over.

It's gone and so begins another.

For all he achieved in a Chelsea shirt, Lampard is the past at Stamford Bridge.

The record goalscorer at Chelsea, his future belongs to Manchester City and New York City FC now.

It's painful, but Chelsea shouldn't have any regrets.

Especially Jose Mourinho.

In Lampard's place, Chelsea now have Cesc Fabregas—a player far more suited to this new-look team that has taken the Premier League by storm in the early stages of the campaign.

The Spaniard may never live up to Lampard's legend—it's difficult to imagine any player doing so—yet for all the club needs, he is the perfect replacement.

The time for swashbuckling midfielders has passed. Now it's about the cute combinations Fabregas brings, the influence on Chelsea going forward, putting them on the front foot in matches.

Against City, Fabregas' withdrawn role didn't allow him such luxuries, yet when Zabaleta's red card came and he was moved up the pitch, he had a bigger impact.

Already in 2014/15, Fabregas has combined with Eden Hazard and Diego Costa to put Chelsea ahead of the pack.

Right now, Mourinho's side is playing in a league of one, with the rest trying to catch them.

Victory on Sunday would have made that task altogether more difficult for the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and City.

But if the points weren't forthcoming for a change this term, the way Chelsea went about their business confirmed it will take something special to stop them from being crowned champions.

We didn't see the free-flowing football that dispatched Everton and Swansea City recently, although we saw a professional display from a team that has more than a Plan A, B And C up its sleeve.

Fabregas has been at the heart of it this season and his emergence as a key figure outlines the wisdom in allowing an aging Lampard to move on.

In his post-match interview with Sky Sports, Mourinho commented that he is maybe a bit too pragmatic in football, believing when a player leaves a club the romance story is over.

For the supporters, it's a little bit different, but the manager makes a valid point.

Allowing Lampard to leave would have been tough on the emotions of Mourinho, a coach well known for the bond he creates with his players.

His perspective cannot be criticised, however. Equalising goal or not.

Chelsea are moving forward, they are evolving and time for Lampard was up.

Lampard's strike was a painful reminder of what Chelsea once had, but let's look to the future. The manner in which victories over Burnley, Leicester City, Everton and Swansea have come show us where this team is headed.

On a separate note, the reception Lampard received from Chelsea fans at the Etihad Stadium deserves a special mention.

The traveling contingent were impeccable in paying tribute to their former hero, singing his name when he entered the field of play and, despite that 85th-minute equaliser, continued to applaud him with gusto at the final whistle.

"This is England and this is Chelsea," Mourinho said on Sky Sports.

"Chelsea people, they never forget what people do in this club. It happened to me when I beat Chelsea with Inter [Milan] and the reception was fantastic at Stamford Bridge.

"It happened with Lamps and it happens with so many. This is Chelsea and this is Chelsea culture and beauty."

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Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes