Frank Lampard says he broke his hand while celebrating 10-man Everton 's 99th-minute winner against Newcastle United.
The Toffees boss was caught up in the ecstasy of Alex Iwobi 's dramatic late winner which puts Everton three points clear of the relegation zone and keeps a previously resurgent Newcastle firmly in it. Showing his hand to pitch-side pundits, Lampard told Amazon Prime: "I've broken my hand by the way celebrating!
"I'll take it for three points. I didn't realise at the time, but as the game carried on my hand started to get a bit more shaky. I don't care though!" The former England ace later added: "I've already spoken to him [club doctor] and he's given me a couple of pills and I might have a beer or two."
Then turning to the dramatic 1-0 win, Lampard said: "It was an amazing night, it's important to put perspective on it because we need those nights and there's a long way to go. But, we must enjoy it and realise what got us this result because it was spirit, it was togetherness. Some players stood up tonight. Seamus Coleman, the captain, the way we defended our box.
"It was a tough game against a very strong team in Newcastle, and it was about spirit. It wasn't a night for quality or calm, we needed one where we had to fight for it. It means so much to everyone in this stadium and you heard that tonight. Our crowd were brilliant tonight. First half it was hard, big spaces and some tactical things for us to deal with.
"At half time I wanted to be so positive with the team and use the atmosphere. Everton fans want to see passion. There"s been a lot of negativity around the club and fans this week, but this club proved what we can be." It was an unlikely three points too, as the Toffees had midfielder Allan sent off for a straight red card midway through the second half which lasted until the 107th minute due to a protest incident.
On referee Craig Pawson's decision, Lampard stated: "I don't agree with the red card. We had one of these situations a couple of weeks ago against Man City. The referee didn't see it, so needed help from VAR and he didn't get it so it goes against us. This one the referee sees, makes the decision on the yellow, and as far as I know when the referee sees it and it's a change of decision it has to be clear and obvious that it's a red card, and it isn't. Is it a yellow? Of course. Is it a strong yellow? Potentially.
"We could have lost that game off the back of that, as much as it galvanized us. It won't get turned over because [the PGMOL] have to stick to their guns on these things. When you have to speak to Mike Riley and go to manager meetings, you get a bit tired of it when you have conversations. There's plenty of time to deal with that and be balanced, it’s just the wrong decision. We get the three points but we lose Allan for three games which is a big problem for us.
"I think we're getting into the nature of VAR which is the human part. I think there are referees that are referees one week, then sitting doing VAR the next week. Once they decide what decision it is, no one has got the balls to stick by their on field decision. Will there be a referee that makes a decision and then goes to have a look and still believes in their first decision? Maybe we need to look at getting VAR specialists."
As well as the late winner and red card, the match saw another controversial moment, with a protester wearing a 'Just Stop Oil' t-shirt tying himself to the goalpost in the 57th minute, causing an eight-minute stoppage as the anti-Government group took responsibility for the stunt.
