Frank Lampard pointed to a lack of composure and difficulty in winning second balls as he highlighted his frustration at Everton's defeat to Manchester United.
Goals from Antony and Ronaldo helped the away side leave Goodison Park with all three points and end Everton's run of six Premier League games without defeat.
Speaking after the match, Lampard pointed to the first half performance of the Blues as a key factor in the defeat, including individual errors that paved the way for both of the away side's goals. Alex Iwobi had given Everton an early lead but the home side failed to build on that foundation and struggled to provide any influence, particularly during the first 45 minutes.
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Referring to the loss of possession that led to both of United's goals, Lampard said: "The frustrating point from our point of view is that we allowed that and then you are fighting to get back into the game. There was good spirit at the end - crosses and corners at the back end of the game and good spirit - but the way we have been going I am slightly disappointed with that first half."
Lampard also said he felt there was a "lack of edge" in his side's performance but added it was a display in which he and his coaching team had learned lessons about the squad.
Discussing his early reflections on the game, and how it will feed into the work at Finch Farm over the coming days, he said: "There were a lot of lessons in all aspects of our game. Especially in the first half, and the players will feel that. There was a lack of edge to our game that I think is normally there. I think we were off it in terms of second balls that is always important in any game but particularly here at Goodison against a team of Manchester United's level, and also in our calmness in possession.
"We can improve that and that is part of our process of working together and getting better on the ball and going from probably a way of playing before, as I came in here, and bringing players into the team, and an understanding of when to have a bit of calmness on the ball.
"It is not always easy on a night at Goodison when everyone wants everything right now. But at the same time we have to have the confidence to do that. We were just off it today, to a degree, in the first half. It is definitely a game of lessons for us."
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