The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)

Lampard delight as Toffees get stuck in

- CARL MARKHAM

Everton manager Frank Lampard felt it was time to spell out the reality of the club’s precarious situation to his players ahead of the visit of Chelsea and he was delighted with their response.

A hugely significan­t 1-0 win came courtesy of Richarliso­n’s fourth goal in five matches and a brilliant second-half goalkeepin­g performanc­e from Jordan Pickford.

Burnley’s surprise late comeback against Watford on Saturday had left Lampard’s side five points adrift of safety heading into the game and the manager decided he needed to address it before they arrived at Goodison Park.

“I think it was an important moment to talk about the reality of the situation,” he said.

“You can keep telling the players to believe. Then there are other times when the demands are this.

“To be good lads is not enough to stay in this league. It is clear what the table looks like.

“My feeling was we needed an extra boost, an extra bit of attention, and to be fair the players delivered that.

“I mentioned it (the Burnley result) briefly to the players this morning because I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a fear or a lack of hope with the points difference.”

Lampard’s side have taken 10 points from the last 12 at home and a raucous Goodison, both outside before the game and inside throughout, will play a huge part in their future with two more home matches remaining.

Burnley and Leeds, with an inferior goal difference, are only two points away and Everton have a match in hand – at home to Crystal Palace three days before the final day of the season – so their destiny remains in their hands.

“I don’t know what is in your hands around the bottom of the table,” the Everton boss added.

“If it was Liverpool and Manchester City you’d think they would win every game and then in your hands is great at that point.

“But are we expecting Burnley to win every game? At the minute maybe yeah! Are we expecting Leeds to win every game?

“It think it is hard to say what is in our hands and that’s because we can only control certain things – and that’s when we play.”

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was left to bemoan another individual mistake – Cesar Azpilicuet­a losing possession on the edge of his own penalty area – which has left them anxiously looking over their shoulders in the race for a top-four place.

“What can I do? To give a goal away is the worst thing that can happen to you,” he said.

“It is our responsibi­lity. It happens too often. We struggle to play without big mistakes and that is why we struggle to have results.”

● Antonio Conte revealed he told Son Heung-min he would be coming off moments before scoring a brilliant goal in Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Leicester.

Son grabbed his second of the game and 19th of the season in style as he curled a 20-yard effort into the top corner to put the seal on Spurs’ victory.

He had earlier set up Harry Kane’s opener from a corner and doubled the lead when he turned and shot on the hour mark.

The quality of the goal left Conte wondering which was Son’s strongest foot, but the Italian said moments like that will only count for something if Spurs achieve their goal of finishing in the top six.

“I gave him a big hug because after an amazing goal my question was which is his favourite foot, right or left?” Conte said. “He scored a fantastic goal and three minutes before when I spoke with him I said ‘go for five or six minutes and then I have to make a change’.

“We are talking about a great player, fantastic player. But it’s important at the end of the season to celebrate a big achievemen­t with the team. Otherwise it remains only a personal success only to score these types of goals.”

● Arsenal tightened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League after goals from centre-backs Rob Holding and Gabriel delivered a 2-1 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium.

The Hammers played well given their Europa League semi-final commitment­s and shortage of defenders, but the Gunners struck from corners in each half to secure three crucial points in their race for Champions League qualificat­ion.

 ?? ?? WINNER: Brazilian Richarliso­n runs with a flare as he celebrates his goal for Everton.
WINNER: Brazilian Richarliso­n runs with a flare as he celebrates his goal for Everton.

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