Frank Lampard has called on his team to “keep working” following Monday’s last-gasp 2-1 home defeat to Wolves at Goodison Park.
Everton started the game brightly and took the lead inside seven minutes when Yerry Mina nodded home Dwight McNeil's corner.
Daniel Podence's close-range effort drew the visitors level 15 minutes later and then, in the dying seconds of second half stoppage time, substitute Rayan Aït-Nouri bundled home the game’s winner.
Although it was a sucker punch for Lampard’s men, the boss took some comfort in the determined manner of his side's display.
“It’s a difficult way to lose the game, I thought the performance was pretty good in terms of being the better team creating better chances,” said Lampard to evertontv.
“But then to concede in 90-plus and lose the game, it’s the hardest way to lose.
“We have to be more clinical, that would change the face of the game, and when you aren't, it leaves an element of nervousness about what could happen.
“But the lads gave everything and it’s one of those games in terms of intensity, work rate, trying to play and move the ball against a good team in Wolves, they’re fighting."
On his side's performance, Lampard continued: “I thought we were unfortunate. I’d be the first to say if it looked any different, if we were lucky, or if we score that last-minute winner when we have been under pressure a lot of the game, but it didn’t go our way on that front again today.”
Up next for the Blues is a tricky trip to the Etihad on New Year’s Eve to take on champions Manchester City (3pm GMT), and Lampard believes that game is an ideal chance for his side to show their resolve in the face of adversity.
“It’s important, I will show it, and the players will,” he said.
“We have to keep fighting, if you look at the performance, the players are playing, they’re trying to do the right thing, they are trying to do well and it’s not going our way.
“That wasn’t the case with Bournemouth, that was on us as a performance, but a couple of games around that recently, I think the players are doing alright.
"But if we aren’t clinical enough in front of goal, that’s going to have a big effect on what the results are. We have to keep working to turn that corner.”
