New Everton boss Frank Lampard is under no illusions and knows he has walked straight into a relegation battle.
Lampard can put table concerns to one side on Saturday as he kicks-off his reign with the visit of Brentford in the FA Cup.
But Everton return to league action three days later when they head to St James' Park for a crunch bottom-of-the-table clash with Newcastle United.
Games with Leeds United and Southampton then follow and Lampard, who signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to become Blues boss this week, is not shying away from the job at hand.
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"Yeah, I think so, and I think you can be open about that," the 43-year-old said.
"The table doesn't lie, when you look at recent performances, as I've looked at them all, you can see that there is a bit of an issue with confidence in the team and that can happen and you can see the frustrations of that, which is normal because everybody wants the best for this club - the fans, the players - but it hasn't quite been happening but it has to be steps.
"And the only way I know how to work in any part of my career has been the effort and work you put in, the focus and determination you show in putting that out on the pitch, is the only thing that can change any moment, and we're in a moment.
"We can all be open about that, people will want to discuss it for as long as ever but us as staff and players here, we just have to look at the job in hand, look at the games, take it bit by bit, keep improving everyday in training and show the quality I know we have here."
