Frank Lampard praised his players for their battling efforts as Everton clinched a late draw against Leicester City.
Lampard accepted his side were “off it” in the first half and allowed the visitors too much space to dictate the first half.
But he hailed the fighting spirit of a team that has now scored two vital stoppage time goals in the last three games at Goodison Park.
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Asked whether the manner of the result left a draw feeling like a victory, he said: “A late goal that gets you a draw obviously feels a real positive. It was a difficult game but on chances I thought we deserved it. Maybe on possession not so much, we were not our usual selves in the first half.
“We are compact and aggressive normally, but we were too open and off it, slightly, and allowed Leicester to play. The second half was different so I think we fought for something we deserved and it feels good because at this stage, points can be critical.”
Lampard said falling behind so early ramped up the tension in the ground but revealed his pride that, after a performance in which his side struggled for so long, they fought to the end to earn the draw through Richarlison’s 50th goal for the club.
He said: “That’s why I think we got what we deserved. The spirit is here and it is great the players showed it because it is what the fans demand.
"I think sometimes it can be an easy thing to throw at the players - that if we don’t perform so well there is a lack of spirit or desire. They certainly don’t [lack that spirit].
“The hardest thing to do in football, for me, is when you are not playing so well and you try to turn it. It’s hard to turn in games. That’s what made me most happy today. The fact that at half time we took stock and the players fought to the end.”
