MATCH CENTRE

Lampard Toasts Unique Evertonians

Frank Lampard says he’s never encountered support to rival that supplied by the “incredible” Evertonians in Sunday’s priceless Premier League victory at Leicester City.

Vitalii Mykolenko and Mason Holgate scored the goals to ensure a consummate away display was rewarded with maximum return. Jordan Pickford, meanwhile, added to his fast-expanding catalogue of outstanding saves as Leicester chased a second-half leveller.

The Club’s fans provided the game’s major talking point, however, following their rousing send-off when the team left Finch Farm on Saturday with a wall of noise from beginning to long after the end at the King Power Stadium.

Lampard had turned his thoughts towards Wednesday’s visit to Watford before leaving the East Midlands, given Everton remain perched one point above the Premier League’s bottom three.

But the manager delayed a share of his post-match commitments to march across the turf where his team ran itself into the ground for a first top-flight away win since August, to orchestrate the fans umpteenth rendition of Spirit of the Blues.

“They're amazing and what they did for us yesterday [at the training ground] is not the norm… I have never experienced anything like it,” said Lampard.

“The support from the warm-up, right until the end of the game was incredible. I went back out there because they are incredible and they need to know how we feel about them.

“They push you over the line, we don’t take it for granted. But we know it’s not done, we are not celebrating anything but three points and we have work still to do.

Frank Lampard
They [Evertonians] are amazing and what they did for us yesterday [at the training ground] is not the norm… I have never experienced anything like it.


“The lads are fighting and we are fighting together as a club.

“Generally, at Goodison we’ve been great but our away form had held us back. The important thing [in overcoming away hurdle] was the Club and players sticking together and players coming back from injury.

“We have Watford in three days and everybody need to reproduce those levels.”

Mykolenko unleashed a wondrous volleyed effort for his first Everton goal after Alex Iwobi lofted over a ball from the right to give Everton an early advantage.

A goal described by Lampard as “an incredible strike out of the blue” further whipped up the 3,500 away fans, who sustained their backing following the disappointment of a quick reply from Leicester.

The blow of the equaliser from Patson Daka was compounded by an injury for Yerry Mina, who was replaced by Michael Keane after 18 minutes.

Everton, however, flourished in adversity. Mason Holgate headed home on the half hour after Richarlison’s initial attempt was kept out by Kasper Schmeichel.

There were chances to add more goals on the counter-attack, while the imperious Pickford was equal to attempts from Harvey Barnes, twice, Daka and Nampalys Mendy.

“I’m proud with how the players reacted to conceding,” said Lampard. “They kept going. They were excellent.

"I think we're building confidence.

“Moments like Jordan’s saves are huge. Everybody is important but you need those moments when top-level players produce.


“He is in great form and getting the recognition he rightly deserves.

“And I’m so happy for Vitalii. He’s playing brilliantly and, with what’s going on in his home country, you can’t even imagine what he’s going through. He has dealt with it incredibly and is playing top-level football and scored an amazing goal.”

Mina’s issue was with his calf, confided Lampard, who is unsure of the severity of the injury.

Keane, who last featured in the Merseyside derby a fortnight ago, delivered a flawless performance in Everton’s back three, as the visitors closed out the victory that saw them jump above Burnley and Leeds United into 16th.

“We have nice options and Michael coming on and playing how he did was huge,” added Lampard.

“He's another high-level player and did really well when we were under pressure.

“It was a tough game against a tough opponent, but I thought we deserved it. We defended well and showed great resilience and created chances to score more.

“We should enjoy results like that. They’re huge. But by the time we get home tonight, we have to move our minds onto Watford and the games that are coming. We are by no means safe yet. It’s far from done.”