Frank Lampard has called on the Everton players to show the same desire and work ethic against Brighton and Hove Albion as they did in their battling draw at Manchester City.
The Blues boss said a similar approach in mentality must be on display on Tuesday night as his side looks to build on an important point against the odds. He explained he may set different tactical demands for the Goodison Park game but expected no less effort.
Lampard said the result and performance at the Etihad Stadium could be crucial to building positive momentum heading into an important January. He urged the team to provide another display to inspire the crowd after witnessing once again the power of Everton fans to fuel those on the pitch.
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The Blues returned from Manchester on New Year's Eve in positive spirits after earning a point few had anticipated. It came after a gut-wrenching Boxing Day home defeat to Wolves left the club in danger of entering 2023 in the relegation places.
Instead, Everton begin the New Year boosted by a resilient display against the Premier League champions that was capped by a brilliant strike from Demarai Gray to cancel out Erling Haaland's opener. City threatened to find a winner but brave defending from the likes of James Tarkowski, Ben Godfrey and Seamus Coleman and some excellent work from Jordan Pickford kept the hosts at bay.
While the threat of another relegation fight remains, back-to-back home league games against Brighton and Southampton, which sandwich an FA Cup trip to Manchester United, offer an opportunity to pull away from trouble.
Asked what his message to the players ahead of the game with Brighton would be, Lampard said: "[I expect] the same approach in mentality and work ethic and all of those things because I think they have got to be standard in football, they just look different, and it will look different against Brighton.
"My message is also that it is a very good team coming to Goodison, a very good possession team that will play, that will stop the game, and when I say stop the game they will stay on the ball and move it from back to front, so we have to have a real work ethic and a discipline about our game and we will look at that tactically with the players."
Lampard and his players went to the away end to show appreciation for the effort of the travelling support at Man City. He acknowledged the role of the fans in helping the Blues take a point back home down the M62 and the importance of his players working to create that ‘good feel’ through their actions on the pitch.
Lampard added: “It is about bringing a 'good feel' to us now... Can we get together and deliver that feeling in the stadium on Tuesday night because it will be a really tough match."
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