Few players have left their mark at Chelsea quite like Lampard. He remains the club's all-time leading scorer and was a pivotal figure in a sustained period of success at Stamford Bridge. He also holds the record for the most penalties converted (48) as a Blue.

Lampard was an unerring finisher from 12 yards and stepped up to convert on the biggest of occasions for Chelsea. He knew how to handle the inevitable pressure that accompanies a spot-kick, yet even he was challenged by the events that unfolded during our clash against West Ham in December 2009.

It is not unusual for a referee to order a penalty to be retaken in the modern-day footballing landscape. But it remains a rarity, and even more so before the introduction of VAR.

However, on a visit to the Boleyn Ground, a stadium where Lampard took the first steps of his footballing journey, he was ordered to retake a penalty not once, but twice.

It all began when referee Mike Dean blew for a foul on Daniel Sturridge 10 minutes after the half-time interval. A penalty was awarded to the Blues, who were a goal behind.

Stepping up with trademark confidence and composure, Lampard drilled the first penalty into the bottom left-hand corner to send the travelling Chelsea supporters into raptures behind the goal. However, as our No.8 wheeled away to celebrate, Dean blew his whistle and insisted encroachment from both sides had resulted in an illegal spot-kick.

Recounting that moment, Lampard said: ‘The feeling when you hit the back of the net is nice, but when you get told to retake it, you wonder if something bad is going to happen.

‘And it was difficult because I know [West Ham goalkeeper] Robert Green quite well from England. I'd rather do it against a keeper who is not aware of my technique, and it was a bit of mind games.’

Chelsea players trudged back to their original positions on the edge of the box as Lampard placed the ball down on the spot a second time. He took a glancing look at his England teammate in between the sticks, and slotted his strike into the opposite corner.

But once again, to the astonishment of Chelsea and West Ham players and fans alike, the referee blew his whistle for a second time.

‘I’ve never even retaken one before!’ Frank said of the second disallowed spot-kick.

‘I'm sure it was their players and our players in the box, and I’m also sure in 98 per cent of penalties there are people in the box, so why the referee chose to do it three times I don't know.'

Replays showed encroachment from a handful of West Ham players – nothing as obvious as the previous incident, but an infringement nonetheless. Once more, everyone retook their positions, and Didier Drogba handed the ball to Lampard.

It was an unprecedented moment as the midfielder prepared to take his third consecutive penalty. The home fans’ boos, jeers and whistles grew louder as Lampard commenced his signature run-up, but that was never going to stop him.

This time, Lampard sent Green the wrong way, and Dean pointed to the halfway line to signal a successful conversion and a Chelsea equaliser. That moment of relief and technical ability was made even more impressive given that the Englishman had scored each of the penalties.

‘I didn't enjoy it too much,’ Frank added. ‘I didn't need that at all, especially after missing a penalty a few weeks before!’

Lampard ranks second for the number of Premier League penalties converted, with 43 successful goals from 50 attempts, and he needed all his experience and composure for that night in East London.