Benitez coy on new contract for Lampard despite double strike as Moyes rues lost points

PUBLISHED: 12:51 EST, 30 December 2012 | UPDATED: 12:51 EST, 30 December 2012

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez once again brushed aside questions about Frank Lampard's future at the club, stressing his job was just to keep the midfielder fit and scoring goals.

The 34-year-old is reportedly not going to have his contract renewed in the summer but the England international showed his true worth to the side again with two strikes in the 2-1 win at Everton.

Having gone behind to Steven Pienaar's effort barely two minutes into the game Lampard pulled his side up to third place with goals either side of half-time.

No clues: Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez was non-committal on whether 34-year-old Frank Lampard would be offered a new deal despite scoring twice at Everton today

'Lampard is a great player, a good professional, who is doing well for us and I will try to bring the best out of him until the end of the season,' said Benitez.

'He is one of the players who if he gets in the box he can be dangerous.

'He is under contract. He has shown his full commitment. He is a great player and my job is to keep him fit, happy and scoring goals.

'If he can score goals every game I'll be pleased.'

Super Frank: Lampard makes it 2-1 to Chelsea, sealing all three points at Everton

Food for thought: Lampard's double in an excellent performance at Goodison Park may prompt the Chelsea hierarchy to rethink not offering him a new contract in the summer

A fourth successive league win ensured Chelsea finished 2012 in third place in the table, just four points behind second-placed Manchester City with a match in hand.

They became only the third team to win in the league at Goodison Park this year and the first since late March.

'It was a great win for us,' added Benitez.

'The team showed their character and quality and although we made mistakes at the beginning the reaction was really good.

'We knew they could be tough but we had confidence in the players.

'We put Ramires on the right side against Leighton Baines and he gave us a great game too.'

Benitez also refused to comment on speculation the club had entered negotiations to sign Newcastle striker Demba Ba.

'We don't talk about our business in public. My job is to prepare for the games, enjoy them if we win and then after they (the club) will let me know what is going to happen,' he said.

'He is a player who is playing for another team so I don't like to talk about other players.'

Speculation: Benitez refused to comment on reports that Chelsea have made an offer for Newcastle United striker Demba Ba (left)

Chelsea are set to be without Petr Cech for Wednesday's game against QPR after the goalkeeper was forced off at half-time.

'He felt something in his adductor and we didn't want to take the risk,' said the Chelsea boss.

'We will have to do a scan and see what it says.'

Everton manager David Moyes was frustrated his side had not taken at least a point from the game having gone ahead so early and then seen Nikica Jelavic hit the woodwork twice before missing an added-time chance to snatch a draw.

'We're not disappointed with the way we've played because we played really well and we've run the European champions really close but we didn't quite have enough in the end,' said Moyes.

'We had played well enough to get a second goal but had been unfortunate, having shots back off the woodwork.

'I thought we were a bit unlucky.

'Unlucky': Everton manager David Moyes was disappointed his side didn't claim at least a point from the match

'We tried to make what we had work the best we could today and for long periods I thought we did, we played well enough to get something from the game.

'We were limited today with what we had, not having Phil Neville and Darron Gibson (through injury) and not got Marouane (Fellaini) because of suspension.

'But Nikica had a great chance to make it 2-2 in what felt like the 94th minute.'

Moyes was seen to confront referee Howard Webb at the final whistle but after the game the Scot apologised for his conduct.

'I thought it was a free-kick on Leon Osman on the edge of the box in the 92nd minute by Lampard and he didn't give it,' he said.

'But I've apologised to Howard Webb afterwards because I shouldn't do that coming off the pitch.'

Agonising: Nikica Jelavic (standing) missed an excellent opening late in the game to earn Everton a point

Moyes revealed Gibson's thigh problem means he is likely to be sidelined for a few weeks, which is another blow to the Toffees who are struggling with a patched-up squad.

'Darron has a thigh strain which will keep him out for a while so we're short and we know that.'