Frank Lampard sees positives for Everton despite defeat to West Ham

Posted Monday, April 04, 2022 by PA

Frank Lampard insisted he saw enough from Everton’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham to suggest they can climb away from relegation trouble.

Goals from Aaron Cresswell and Jarrod Bowen, either side of a Mason Holgate equaliser, condemned the travel sick-Toffees to another defeat on the road.

Everton remain just one place above the drop zone and face a huge match against fellow strugglers Burnley on Wednesday.

A tough result to take after an improved away performance, but thanks as ever for your superb support.
Safe journey home, Blues. 💙 pic.twitter.com/Og4GoCwJo8
— Everton (@Everton) April 3, 2022

Boss Lampard said: “It’s disappointing. We deserved a point at least from the game on general play.

“It was an afternoon when quite a few circumstances went against us. That can happen. But we played well; the game plan, the discipline, the character.

“We created enough chances and it’s not easy to create against West Ham so there are things we can be positive and happy about.

“Not the result, but we’ve got 10 more games and if we carry on in that vein things will turn and we will be OK.”

Richarlison squandered two one-on-ones in the first half, while Cresswell opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick from 25 yards before half-time.

Cress enjoyed that one 😄 pic.twitter.com/GjGLP8h60X
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 3, 2022

Holgate, only on the pitch after Donny Van De Beek was injured in the warm-up, equalised with a deflected drive from a corner.

But the Toffees were undone when Jordan Pickford saved Michail Antonio’s shot and Bowen, back after a month out with a foot injury, snaffled the rebound.

To compound Lampard’s misery captain Michael Keane was sent off – Everton’s third red card in three matches – after a second foul on Antonio.

Hammers boss David Moyes said he felt his former club had enough quality to stay up, and Lampard smiled: “That’s easy for him to say – but I appreciate the sentiment.

“If he meant from seeing us today and if we continue with that form and replicate that then I agree. But we are in the position we are in with 10 games left.

“Maybe next time when Richarlison goes through he scores, or maybe our free-kick goes in the top corner. A couple of mistimed tackles are going against us at the moment.”

A third straight home win kept West Ham firmly in the race for another top-six finish and set them up nicely for Thursday night’s huge Europa League quarter-final against Lyon.