Frank Lampard saluted Evertonians' "spirit and togetherness" as the key to securing "an amazing night" after the Blues' dramatic 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at a rocking Goodison Park.
Everton were clinging on for a point following Allan's controversial 83rd-minute red card - given after an initial booking and VAR check - before 14 minutes of added time were displayed.
Despite being down to 10 men, Lampard's men showed heart and fight to battle on and they were rewarded on 99 minutes when substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin teed up Alex Iwobi to finish past Martin Dubravka.
The late, late drama sparked wild scenes around Goodison. And Lampard - who broke his hand in the celebrations - was full of praise for his players and the Club's fans for inspiring what could be a pivotal moment in Everton's season.
"I've broken my hand in the celebrations. My bones must be going soft, I don't remember the moment," joked Lampard.
"It was an amazing night and we need those nights. Spirit and togetherness, the players stood up tonight. It was not a night for quality or calm. It means so much to the stadium we all felt that. I wanted to use the atmosphere.
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"Everton fans wanted to see passion. We proved what we could be tonight.
"Newcastle are a good team, they will be alright. From our point of view, it was can we dig in? And can we get one or two opportunities when down to 10 men.
"There is a lot of talk about Dominic [Calvert-Lewin] and being involved in that goal will do him the biggest favour. It will hopefully be the catalyst for him. We need a fit and firing Dom to help this team."
Lampard also revealed how a speech to the First-Team squad from Chairman Bill Kenwright at the Club's Finch Farm training ground on Wednesday helped galvanise the players for the Newcastle test.
Mr Kenwright was joined by CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale and non-executive Director Graeme Sharp as he discussed his love for the Blues.
"Our Chairman came to the training ground [on Wednesday]," said Lampard. "He spoke to me about wanting to come and speak and what he did was deliver a talk to the lads for half an hour of his passion for this club.
"That’s not normal. I’ve been in the game a long time. A lot of chairman are very corporate, doing their job away from the players. Our Chairman grew up an Everton fan, he absolutely idolises this club, and was at the training ground with our CEO Denise and Graeme Sharp, and he delivered a speech to the players.
"I have to do that all the time and, 25 young men, it’s not an easy audience all the time! The Chairman was great in showing his passion for this club. It was a big deal for me, a big deal for us."
CLICK ON THE VIDEO ABOVE OR HERE FOR MORE WITH LAMPARD ON:
- What the victory can do for Everton's season.
- His delight for match-winner Iwobi.
- The latest on Jordan Pickford and Donny van de Beek, who missed the game through illness.
- Reaction to Allan's red card.
- Keeping a clean sheet, his defence and Asmir Begovic's display
