Cheryl Cole is ready for a fight after her protégé and former X Factor contestant Cher Lloyd implied the pop star couldn't sing without Auto-Tune.

The software is often used to help singers correct their vocal pitch.

Last night Cole tweeted a message allegedly aimed at the 18-year-old she once called her "mini-me."

"Be Careful who you kick on your way up ... They kick you twice as hard on your way back down. #unnapreciationisugly," Cole's tweet read.

Cole's warning came after Lloyd's interview with a radio station where she questioned the Girls Aloud star's singing abilities. When asked if she would ever work with Cole, Lloyd replied, " Maybe if she'd sing live with me!"

The Swagger Jagger singer's comments didn't stop there. When asked if singing live would be a problem for Cole, Lloyd responded: "Well it is nowadays, when you haven't got the nifty little button to press!" 

Ouch!

Tags: Cheryl Cole