Everton manager Frank Lampard remains confident in his own abilities, but said he is "not a miracle worker" after his team's relegation worries increased.
Summer signing Amadou Onana put Lampard's team ahead at home to fellow relegation battlers Southampton on Saturday as the Toffees looked to pull their way out of danger. Two James Ward-Prowse goals turned the game on its head, though, leaving Lampard's team down in 19th.
Next up for the out-of-form side is a trip to West Ham, who have been on a similar slide, with some calling for Lampard to step down. And the on-field woes come against the backdrop of threats being sent to board members ahead of the latest defeat.
“We’re in a tough moment so everything can look tough and feel tough but in terms of my abilities, I always remain confident about that,” Lampard said. “I know I’m not a miracle worker and I know I’m not the best coach in the world – to proclaim that would be stupid because so many people have got successes behind them – but I know I’ll work as hard as I can to be as good as I can be and that’s it.
“I have to work with the team that I’ve got and find a way to make us as good as can be. The message to the fans is that I want to create a team that can fight, show passion, I show that myself to be fair.”
Lampard led Everton to safety last season with just one game to spare, having taken over from Rafa Benitez midway through the campaign. This time, though, a return of just three wins from 19 games has left the Goodison Park club in deep trouble.
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Speaking on beIN Sports, former Everton striker Andy Gray added his voice to those suggesting Lampard's time is up. "I don't know where they go, and I don't know where Frank goes from here," the 67-year-old said.
"If I've been there a year and I've had two transfer windows and I've shaped a team the way I want - plenty of players have come in since Frank's been there, and it's his team - and I haven't moved them forward... I would say 'maybe this is for someone else. Maybe somebody can do a better job than me'.
"It's a big decision they [Everton] have got coming," Gray added, with games against Arsenal and Liverpool on the horizon after the trip to West Ham.
"Honestly, it's a massive one now. I thought two weeks ago, before the cup tie (against Man Utd) when they lost at home to Wolves, I thought 'that's a big one'.
