Aston Villa fans have hit back at Frank Lampard's claim that Jack Grealish goes 'looking for fouls'.

Grealish has been fouled 60 times this season, the most of any player in the Premier League, but the Chelsea boss feels that is part of his gameplan.

“I think when you come up against Jack Grealish you'd better get close to him, and that means you might foul him, and he's looking for fouls, unfortunately," he told Chelsea TV.

“That's the way he plays and it's dangerous because they've got good delivery, [John] McGinn similarly so.

“It was obviously part of my preparation and team-talk post-West Ham, before this game, we can't go through a game without fouls.

“I don't want to run around just trying to kick everybody, but we need to play with aggression and we didn't quite have that at the weekend.”

Coming hot on the heels of Villa boss Dean Smith asking for more protection for his talisman, the claret and blue faithful were quick to condemn Lampard's comments:

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Graham Amiss: If memory serves, were Chelsea not complaining of the same thing towards Hazard ????

Roy Townsend: You would love him in your side Lampard!!

Jamie Dayseley: He’s just too good with the ball the only way to get it is to foul him I agree stupid statement

@Mrbaggins7: The issue is this talented player dribbles past opponents whose only option is to commit themselves to a foul. Dribbling and being talented is not an offence. FOULING is!

@eimcg3: Tell you what Frank-get your players to beat him fair and square then. Get the ball off him. Good luck with that.

@Villa6441: Pure bitterness for being battered last year by Villa and Grealish. He gets kicked up in the air every game.

Les Hunt: What a stupid statement, if he's fouled to me it means the opposition aren't good enough to take the ball by fair means.

@TheVileVillan: Nothing wrong from drawing a foul from a player there is no rule in football about that, it is totally different from taking a dive & pretending you were fouled. He puts pressure on a player with his skills until that player feels that he has no alternative but to bring him down.

@roys_boys: Every footballer is looking for a foul to take the pressure off or to gain an advantage but Grealish is literally targeted by every club because he’s our best player.

@muzzvilla: Can we get lampards looking for fouls montage pls someone must have these skills