Everton supervisor Frank Lampard stays assured he can flip round Everton’s slide in the direction of relegation however admits he’s not a miracle employee.
In the times main as much as the 2-1 defeat to backside facet Southampton, proprietor Farhad Moshiri had expressed his religion in Lampard, director of soccer Kevin Thelwell – each approaching their first anniversaries at Goodison – and the membership’s board.
But with only one win within the final 13 matches and no new, much-needed, signings because the switch window enters its third week the Toffees – who’re solely off the underside of the desk on objective distinction – are going through an uphill battle to arrest their slide.
“We’re in a tough moment so everything can look tough and feel tough but in terms of my abilities, I always remain confident about that,” mentioned a beleaguered Lampard, whose overseeing of a fourth successive residence defeat is the worst run since 1951 when the membership was final relegated.
“I know I’m not a miracle worker and I know I’m not the best coach in the world – to proclaim that would be stupid because so many people have got successes behind them – but I know I’ll work as hard as I can to be as good as I can be and that’s it.
“I have to work with the team that I’ve got and find a way to make us as good as can be.
“The message to the fans is that I want to create a team that can fight, show passion, I show that myself to be fair.”
That process in itself seems a frightening one as his facet are discovering it nearly unimaginable to attract matches – simply two on this present 13-game downward spiral – by no means thoughts win them.
Amadou Onana, the one shiny spot on an in any other case depressing afternoon at Goodison Park, scored his first objective for the membership since his £34million summer time switch from Lille and that ought to have given the house facet the enhance they wanted to finish their barren spell.
But James Ward-Prowse scored from Che Adams’ knockdown simply two minutes into the second half and, when substitute Anthony Gordon’s nonsensical foul on Adams introduced Ward-Prowse with a free-kick, the Saints midfielder whipped residence a trademark effort to safe a treasured win.
Thousands of followers joined a post-match sit-in to protest in opposition to the board’s working of the membership and, whereas police needed to cordon off the exit to the gamers’ automobile park, it didn’t forestall some members of the squad – Yerry Mina and Gordon, for instance – being confronted of their automobiles on roads surrounding the bottom.
Death threats despatched to chairman Bill Kenwright and the current bodily assault of chief government Denise Barrett-Baxendale compelled Everton into the unprecedented step of ordering all board members to not attend their match with the Saints.
Everton’s subsequent match is at West Ham, themselves in serious trouble in 18th and solely above the Toffees on objective distinction, and is one they should discover a manner of profitable.
It is a knack Southampton seem to have found after a 3rd victory in eight days in three completely different competitions.
Nathan Jones has lastly benefited from a brand new supervisor bounce and his first Premier League win, after beating Crystal Palace and Manchester City in cup competitions, has injected new life into their bid to beat the drop as they’re now only a level from security.
Ward-Prowse was a key part within the victory together with his winner transferring him to inside two of David Beckham’s Premier League free-kick report of 18.
“Unless somebody comes in and cut off his right leg, I think that record is under threat,” mentioned Jones.
“He’s one of the best technicians I’ve ever seen, the consistency he shows is world-class, and the quality isn’t going to diminish in any way.”
Jones mentioned his 28-year-old captain had been a key man for him since arriving in November.
“His attitude has been absolutely outstanding since I came in,” he added.
“My first conversation was with him was 10 minutes after he didn’t get picked for the England (World Cup) squad and since that moment he has been absolutely world class.
“The way he reacted, everything about it, and we are seeing performances which are really motivated and driven.”
