Lampard Hopes Swansea Fans Will End Grimes Abuse

ByGareth Vincent

BBC Sport Wales

Frank Lampard hopes Matt Grimes' "very classy" determination not to observe his extremity against Swansea City will extremity nan boos erstwhile nan midfielder faces his aged club.

Grimes was fixed an icy reception connected his first return to nan Swansea.com Stadium since ending a 10-year spell arsenic a Swan erstwhile he joined Coventry City successful January 2025.

Yet erstwhile he responded by scoring Coventry's 2nd extremity successful nan Championship leaders' 3-0 triumph connected Saturday, nan 30-year-old raised his hands successful apology.

"A batch of people, possibly including me, would person had a small ceremony having sewage booed, but it's a motion of nan man he is," said Sky Blues leader Lampard.

"This is an affectional crippled truthful I'm judge he's sewage immoderate emotion inside, but his extracurricular demeanour handled it brilliantly and I would dream that puts that [booing] to bed.

"If he comes backmost to play Swansea again, I would dream that group will respect what he did [on Saturday] and conscionable move on."

Grimes made 333 appearances for Swansea and captained nan nine for much than 5 years.

But his move to Coventry – who were conscionable 4 points amended disconnected than an out-of-form Swansea squad erstwhile nan transportation was agreed - upset sections of nan Welsh side's support.

Grimes was jeered by distant fans erstwhile Vitor Matos' squad went to Coventry successful December, and location were sustained boos arsenic he came backmost to Swansea.

The maltreatment died down, however, aft Grimes' goal.

He told Sky Sports that nan determination not to observe was because he "has a batch of emotion for nan nine and a batch of nan unit are still here".

Former England prima Lampard, who played for Swansea arsenic a youngster, says he cannot understand nan maltreatment Grimes has received.

"He's spent 10 years present giving his everything for nan club," Lampard added.

"I've sewage a batch of affection for Swansea because I came present connected indebtedness galore years agone and I liked it.

"I'm not criticising nan nine here, I'm conscionable reasoning why would a personification move up to travel and boo Matt Grimes aft nan work he gave nan club, and past he moves connected arsenic we each do successful life astatine different times?

"Sometimes they footwear you retired aliases sometimes you move on. That's life. So it was unusual and possibly immoderate group mightiness mull connected that coming because I deliberation nan measurement he dealt pinch it was great."