TOWN goal ace Michael Collins emerged from Stamford Bridge clutching John Mikel Obi’s shirt and insisted: “If you don’t take inspiration from playing against a side like that, you won’t take it from anything.”

The midfielder sparked 15 minutes of hope for Town and their 6,000-plus fans by notching his third goal of the season seven seconds into time added on at the end of the first half.

After good approach play by Luke Beckett and Chris Brandon and a telling pass from James Berrett, Collins held off Portuguese right-back Paulo Ferreira and slotted a shot past Italian keeper Carlo Cudicini to cancel out England ace Frank Lampard’s 100th goal for Chelsea.

Town made a bright start to the second half before quadruple-chasing Chelsea turned the screw, with Lampard’s second on the hour and a goal by Salmon Kalou, just back from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast, settling the tie.

“We’re disappointed because we’ve been beaten, but the main thing is we can leave with our heads held high, having given a good account of ourselves,” said Collins.

“We had a good 10 to 15-minute spell at the start of the second half when if we’d nicked one, an upset could have been on. Unfortunately we didn’t.

“In the end they showed why they are internationals and unfortunately we are not.

“The difference became evident, and we have to hold our hands up to that.

“We consider ourselves a fit side, but they seemed even sharper.

“Add to that the speed of thought and movement and you have an amazing blend.

“They seem to see two or three passes ahead of the one they are about to play. They all know what the others are doing.

“Frank Lampard, for example, can be standing next to you and you think he’s going nowhere.

“Next thing he’s 10 yards away in the penalty box.

“They are constantly moving off each other and they seem to anticipate where you think they are going to go and do the opposite.

“Any space is quickly exploited and it’s a real lesson to see how they play the game.

“They are a fantastic group of players – every one of them is talented in their own individual way.

“I got Mikel Obi’s shirt and I’m happy with that. He’s a great player who seldom seems to give the ball away.

“It’s pass, pass, move with them, and when you have a player like Frank Lampard playing off someone like Mikel Obi, the goals will come, as we saw.”

Collins added: “The nice thing was that they showed us respect too.

“None of the Chelsea players were big-time charlies, which you do find with some Premier League teams.

“I’d like to think they could go on and win the cup, and given some of the other results, I think they have an even better chance.”

Of Town’s approach to the fifth-round tie, Collins said: “You try to prepare the same as you always do, and aim to give 100% and do your bit for the team.

“The manager drummed it into us that we are a professional outfit like Chelsea.

“We didn’t come for a day out but to do a job.

“In League I it can be very difficult because teams are set up to stifle you and stop you from playing football.

“Chelsea allow you to play – at least to a degree.

“I find it more enjoyable playing against the bigger clubs because I get more chance to pass the ball, whereas in League I, it does become more of a battle.”

Collins said of his goal: “It was a great pass by James Berrett and I was delighted to put it away.

“Scoring at a place like this is what dreams are made of and definitely one for the scrapbook.

“If that’s not an incentive to one day get to the level of playing with the big boys, I don’t know what is.

“I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this game and I want to experience more of them.

“So did all the lads, to be fair, and hopefully we can get to a higher level with Huddersfield Town.

“It would be silly not to use today’s experience to our advantage and string a good run together and get closer to those play-offs.”