Alan McCormack was full of praise for his opposite number Frank Lampard both on and off the pitch at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The tough tackling midfielder was impressed by the skills and movement of the England international and also by how gracious he was at the final whistle.
Speaking to the Southend Evening Echo Macca said: "Frank's just so hard to mark because his movement is just incredible and he's superb like all of their midfielders. They are very intelligent too and fair play to Frank because he came into our changing room at the end of the game to say well done. He also gave the lads a couple of his shirts but not all of his team-mates were like that. A few of them had promised us their jerseys but never gave them to us. I was one of those who didn't get one but I'm not worried. A jersey is a jersey at the end of the day and seeing the goal go in at the end there was much better then getting a shirt off someone that's for sure."
McCormack, who will miss Saturday's League One home game against Crewe after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season for a foul on Didier Drogba, was well aware this was a special afternoon: "We were waiting in the tunnel to go out and standing next to me is Lampard, Didier Drogba and some of the best players in the world. That's when you start to think oh my god a little a bit. You realise it's not just a normal day and that was certainly the case."
Meanwhile, West Ham loanee Junior Stanislas loved every second of playing against top flight opposition for the first time: "It was a good game and I loved it - it was all I thought it would be. Chelsea are a superb side so we knew it would be hard and being on the wing it was difficult to get involved at times. But when I got on the ball I thought I did OK and when the goal went in right at the end there it was just an amazing feeling."
Stanislas is now hoping for more of the same in the replay at Roots Hall which takes place on Wednesday January 14: "That's going to be a brilliant night and I can't wait. It's all a great experience for me. Games like this are good for your development and it's where you want to be. I still have a couple of weeks left on my loan but the manager has said he would like me to stay for longer. I have a while to make up mind so I'm going to be thinking things over."
The Blues boss himself, Steve Tilson, was still excited about the result: "It's just fantastic and certainly on a par with the night we beat Manchester United. Coming away from home and avoiding defeat is just amazing and it's a day to remember for the club and fans. I haven't been feeling the best in the last few days. But I'm certainly feeling a lot better after that."