At the end of this contest, a visibly emotional Frank Lampard ushered his players towards the few fans still gathered in the Gwladys Street who hadn’t bolted early for the exit.
It was as though, in his frustration and immense irritation, he wanted them to front up the supporters and know what Everton actually means to them. Inevitably, they were greeted with fury.
These are people who pay so much of their hard-earned money to not just follow Everton, but to believe in them. And frankly, here on a grim Sunday afternoon where the gathering black clouds were a metaphor for the club’s position, there was little to believe in.
