Duncan Ferguson says Everton must blend composure and intelligence with the “fight and passion” he expects from his team against Chelsea on Saturday.

Ferguson is anticipating a Goodison Park “cauldron” for the visit of Frank Lampard’s side.

Moreover, the Scot in temporary charge of Everton insists his team has a duty to deliver a stirring reaction following a difficult month for the Club.

Former striker Ferguson – who will be assisted by the trio of John Ebbrell, Francis Jeffers and Alan Kelly – joined Everton as a player in 1994 and grew into a talismanic figure across two spells, scoring 72 goals in 273 appearances.

His immediate task is to summon a response from an Everton side beaten in the season's first Merseyside derby on Wednesday.

“I am incredibly proud to manage the Club, I have been here a very long time and it is a big part of my life,” Ferguson told evertontv.

“We have to try to get their performance up, make sure there’s a reaction from the past few games and it is my job to do that.

“[We want] what everybody wants, we want to see a team that is fighting.

“Passion for the shirt.

“But we have to be sensible, too. Chelsea are a very strong team, very strong on the counter-attack.

“We have to be careful about when we are pressing.

“It will be a great atmosphere on Saturday and we want a high-energy performance from the team.

“I am sure the players will be ready to perform.”

Everton’s most recent victory came at Southampton last month.

The Blues lost to Norwich at home two weeks later and suffered subsequent defeats on the road against Leicester City and Liverpool.

Ferguson has limited time to inspire an upturn – he is overseeing training at the Club’s USM Finch Farm base on Friday – but is confident a partisan Goodison Park will aid his team’s efforts to topple fourth-placed Chelsea.

“We want it rocking, don’t we?” said Ferguson.

“We want the fans onside, which I am sure they will be – and they have been.

“It’s been a tough time for everybody at the Club of late.

“We want Saturday to be a real cauldron, the atmosphere, supporting the team.

“Having the fans with you gives you a lift… an extra yard.

“Hopefully that is what will happen on Saturday and I am sure it will.

“We will put on a session today with plenty of talking and communication with them [players] and trying to build them up for the game.

“We know how important it is and we’ll make sure they know as well."

Ferguson is without the injured Fabian Delph and “waiting to hear on one or two players" following the midweek derby.

He is nevertheless optimistic the talent at his disposal can conjure a result and performance to redirect the narrative around Everton’s campaign.

“We are coming off the derby game which was tough to take, so the players have to bounce back quickly," said Ferguson.

“I do [believe the players can compete with Chelsea], they are at this football club because we believe they are good football players.

“They have to prove that on Saturday and I am sure they will.

“The adrenaline is there.

“We have to focus and be professional and come up with a gameplan.

“Let’s hope that works and I am sure it will.”

On assistants Ebbrell, Jeffers and Kelly, Ferguson added: “They know the Club well, two of them have played for the Club.

“They are people I trust and will be great for me.”