The England midfielder sent Manchester City goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson the wrong way from the spot in the 28th minute after Micah Richards had been punished for tripping Salomon Kalou.
Lampard in the process prolonged City manager Stuart Pearce's misery - this was his side's fifth successive league defeat.
City had been keen to win over their supporters after a miserable run which also included an FA Cup exit at the hands of Blackburn.
They started well with Joey Barton latching onto a clearance from the returning John Terry in the sixth minute, only to fire his effort high over the crossbar.
Emile Mpenza, making his first start for City, linked up well with Stephen Ireland three minutes later. However the move broke down when the Belgian striker strayed into an offside position for the return ball.
Play switched back down the other end and Arjen Robben took up a good position in the 12th minute but failed to test Isaksson.
City midfielder Dietmar Hamann was then given a talking to by referee Alan Wiley for clipping Claude Makelele's heels.
Intervention
Ireland tried to release Mpenza in the 19th minute but Ashley Cole made a timely intervention.
Chelsea were taking their time to get going and Lampard tried to release Michael Ballack in the penalty area, only to overhit the pass and see the move break down.
A minute later Ireland pounced on a loose ball but snatched at his shot and saw it clear the bar.
Yet it was Chelsea who made the breakthrough in the 28th minute when Lampard struck from the spot after Richards' misdemeanour.
The young England defender pleaded his innocence after a foolish challenge but Lampard ignored the fuss with a cool finish.
It was just the boost Chelsea needed in their bid to close the gap on United.
Barton made a vain appeal for a penalty in the 31st minute after going to ground following a challenge from Makelele.
City were refusing to lie down and Barton flashed a shot across the face of Peter Cech's goal in the 39th minute.
Chelsea, however, remained dangerous on the counter attack with Kalou, Didier Drogba and Robben always looking for openings.
Barton was putting in a hard shift and swung in a corner in the 43rd minute which was cleared to safety.
Darius Vassell tried to pick out Mpenza in the 48th minute but Cole showed good vision to make the interception.
City captain Richard Dunne went on a lung-busting run in the 54th minute and got a huge cheer from the fans for winning a corner.
Attitude
Dunne has questioned the attitude of some of his team-mates and the supporters seem to be on his side.
Lampard almost added a second for Chelsea in the 56th minute after Robben had sprung the offside trap - the England midfielder chipped the ball over Isaksson but Richards came to the rescue to clear the danger.
Chelsea stepped up the pace and Kalou worked his way into the area, only for Dunne to make a good block.
Hamann was then booked in the 60th minute after leaving Ivory Coast striker Drogba hobbling on the touchline.
City boss Pearce decided to freshen things up in the 63rd minute, bringing on Ishmael Miller for Sun Jihai.
The worry for the manager must have been that his side had not tested Cech going into a crucial stage of the game.
Vassell had endured a frustrating time and was replaced in the 72nd minute by Georgios Samaras.
Former City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips was then given a warm reception by the City of Stadium support when he came on for Robben five minutes later.
He almost extended Chelsea's lead within 60 seconds, his fierce drive from 25 yards coming back off the bar.
City were making a decent fist of it, however, and Barton dragged a shot wide in the 81st minute after linking up with Ireland.
Then in stoppage-time Richards saw his close-range header taken cleanly by Cech before Isaksson blocked Ballack's effort.
What did you think of City's performance? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
chris.city, Manchester (14/03/2007 at 22:53)
Steve (14/03/2007 at 23:11)
CANADIAN BLUE (14/03/2007 at 23:40)
THERE'S A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL..
JUST WATCHED THE MATCH.
100% IMPROVEMENT FROM RECENT GAMES,YES NO POINTS GAINED BUT THERE HAS TO BE BE A CONFIDENCE BOOST WITHIN THE TEAM!.LOOKING AT THIS FIXTURE AT THE START OF THE SEASON YOU WOULD'NT EXPECT A DIFFERENT OUT COME TO BE HONEST.
THE PENALTY FROM THE REF'S ANGLE WAS A PENALTY.
FROM THE OTHER ANGLE A LITTLE DODGEY.. YES I'M A CITY FAN.
THE BOYS TRIED,CHELSEA DID'NT LOOK LIKE SCORING ALL NIGHT NEITHER DID WE (NOTHING NEW THERE)
BUT WE LOOKED MORE INTERESTED THAN IN MORE RECENT GAMES..
IF THE TEAM PLAYS LIKE THAT THE REST OF THE SEASON WE AIN'T GOING DOWN----END OF.
DON'T SACK PEARCE POSSIBLY THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN AT THIS STAGE OF THE SEASON, STICK WITH HIM THIS SEASON AND YOU'LL NEVER LOOK BACK..
CITY TILL I DIE..
Max, Bangkok (14/03/2007 at 23:45)
Nefyn blue, Stockport (15/03/2007 at 00:02)
The only blip was the never ending quest for a shot on the oppositions goal. It came in the 93rd minute, still it was better than at Blacburn, and I am becoming very easy to please !.
The real plus tonght though were the fans. Not one discordent sound, apart from the muted boos when Samaras came on (try harder please). There was a much improved atmosphere in the crowd which was reflected by the performance on the pitch. Lets keep this positive frame of mind and create the correct conditions for the boys to perform in. I know we lost the game but if the team can play to that standard for the rest of the season, then we will attain the required number of points, and the threat of relegation should become a distant memory.
Barratt, Sydney (15/03/2007 at 00:11)
Wigan Ben, Wigan (15/03/2007 at 00:30)
Dunne, Ireland, Ball, Distin, Hamann all gave 150%. Barton needs to learn how to pass to a player in a blue shirt. We only play in black when we are away from home Joey!
But they all deserve a pat on the back because they gave 100%. And the fans also deserve a pat because at last they got behind them all the way.
Went to Wembley in 1956, Pennsylvania (15/03/2007 at 00:31)
Stuart Pearce, last stop & time to get off?
Edski Vega, Nottingham (15/03/2007 at 01:02)
StretfordBLUE, Virginia (15/03/2007 at 01:17)
james harper (15/03/2007 at 02:15)
Paul Davidson, Los Angeles (15/03/2007 at 03:58)
Jesper, Copenhagen (15/03/2007 at 05:42)
Sheil, Eccles (15/03/2007 at 06:41)
Dunne and Distin were fantastic.
The refereeing was a farce. We should have had a penalty but he didn't even give us a corner! He was taking his orders from Lampard and Terry instead of listening to his linesmen. It was disgraceful and should be reported.
But well done lads, you made them look ordinary.
Dunne for player of the season.
deejayvu, everywhere (15/03/2007 at 07:18)
Rix-76, Wherever (15/03/2007 at 07:32)
The players and management must have noticed that sometimes when the result is against them but they work for the shirt, the fans will back them and appreciate the effort. They made Chelsea look a very ordinairy side and deserved much more than what they got in the end.
Ray (15/03/2007 at 07:37)
Adam Borch (15/03/2007 at 07:41)
Good to see Hamann back at something like his old self - if it wasn't for Dunne he would be my MOM, great performance! And good to see Mpenza. He did really well - I was surprised how many headers he won against Terry - there might be something in the making there...
Blue John, London (15/03/2007 at 08:09)
Thankfully for once, there were a few positives to be had though. Despite creating nothing it was still a much improved team performance. OK, the passing was as dismal as always, but the players at least competed this time, and it was pleasing to finally see a City side with no lightweight passengers in it. Bye bye Beasley, bye bye Trabelsi, bye bye Corradi, bye bye Dabo, don't ever come back. We need two wins minimum from the games to come. The best way I can think of getting them, is to keep with this same group of players, cos at least they can compete physically - in fact Hamann's clattering of Drogba turned out to be one of the evening's highspots!
And lastly the crowd. I wouldn't go as far as to endorse anything Juste Lovitte says, because cheering will not make up for any technical deficiencies the players may have, but if it takes even a little of the pressure off then it can only be beneficial to the cause
James Robertson (15/03/2007 at 08:10)
Keith, Altrincham (15/03/2007 at 08:17)
Normal Pearce tactics - we're a goal down and he brings on Dabo ? we all know he can't pass why can't SP see it..was pleased with Miller and was sorry he couldn't have been on longer and as for Samaras....on the wing again ??
PEARCE OUT !!
Gerry, Glastonbury (15/03/2007 at 08:18)
The penalty? Replays clearly showed for me that Richards did not touch Kalou, though I have to say at first glance it looked a stone-waller, so you can't blame the ref' for not spotting that one, but it shows how difficult it is when a player dives as convincingly as Kalou did.
I thought it was a good response from City after all the hype. That's praise indeed from a United fan!
Arj, Boro (15/03/2007 at 08:22)
UWE's Grandad, South Wales (15/03/2007 at 08:34)
James Robertson (15/03/2007 at 08:51)