Here are your Everton morning headlines for Monday, March 21.
'That's the reality' - Frank Lampard makes honest Everton admission after FA Cup defeat
Frank Lampard has admitted that his side hugely lacked in confidence as they were comfortably beaten 4-0 by Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts progressed to the semi final of the FA Cup at Selhurst Park with ease thanks to strikes from Marc Guehi, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Wilfried Zaha and Will Hughes. Everton has initially started the match well, but quickly fell apart after Patrick Vieira's side bagged their first goal.
And the Blues boss later admitted that a lack of confidence was one of the clear issues that was affecting his team. The manager also highlighted crucial errors at both ends of the pitch which led to his side's loss.
READ MORE: National media give brutal verdict on 'Everton flops' after defeat at Crystal Palace
He said: "It's done damage that we won't go to Wembley, our fans won't got to Wembley and we won't have the opportunity to go to a final. But after the break it's up to us.
"There's a balance of confidence stroke playing at the cut-throat end of football. This is a quarter-final today to get to Wembley, and if you haven't got the confidence to play, then you can quickly flip to say have you got the b******s to play? Excuse me, but that's the football reality.
"If you fall somewhere in the middle then don't worry about it. We didn't play that badly today and Palace didn't play that well today, and we lost 4-0. Because of a lack of confidence, and a lack of what I just said.
"If you can't be clinical in front of goal, you can't score goals. If you allow people to stroll into your box to finish with ease, they'll finish with ease. It was real basics."
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Match of the Day pundits lay into Everton after cup thrashing
Evertonians will have been in no rush to watch highlights of the Blues' 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace last night, but those who did will have seen their team blast by pundits Danny Murphy and Ashley Williams in the analysis section.
Everton's bright start evaporated as soon as Palace took the lead - a situation they never looked like reversing - and both pundits were alarmed by the defensive frailties on show.
Former Blue Williams said: “For me defensively they’re so reactive at the minute and not proactive. At the minute defensively, especially away, Everton just look a little bit lacking on confidence and not sure what they’re doing.
“I don’t think it’s for a lack of caring, they care and they want to keep clean sheets they’ve just got to do it. What they’ve got to do as a team is get back to basics. Keep a clean sheet and let them go and win. Right now it’s not about building a philosophy right now for Everton. They need points on the board and then they can do that in the summer.”
Murphy added: “I think it’s a real lack of quality. The middle of midfield you need players, yes with courage to get on the ball, but quality as well and they’re lacking in that. The biggest thing is lack of communication and leadership. Who’s demanding from each other? Who’s digging each other out? Who’s dragging each other in? Who’s organising? They’re all over the place.”
VAR decision explained after Wilfried Zaha handball against Everton
Crystal Palace's second goal against Everton on Sunday afternoon was allowed to stand after it was adjudged that Wilfried Zaha's handball in the build-up was not deliberate.
In the build-up to the goal near the touchline, Zaha was involved in a challenge with Demarai Gray and appeared to knock the ball away from the Everton winger with his arm. The move later led to the Palace man playing a pivotal role in setting up Mateta to put his side in a comfortable position.
The ECHO understands that it was deemed the handball was not deliberate, with Lee Mason the VAR for Sunday afternoon's match. On-field official Stuart Attwell was not advised to check his pitch-side monitors over the decision, with little indication in the stadium over whether a check had even taken place.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
