Mason Holgate believes Everton can take positives from the start to the season and stressed the players know that "spirit needs to start turning into results".
The Blues fell to defeat at Aston Villa despite rallying late on and coming close to finding an equaliser. The loss followed Chelsea's victory at Goodison Park in the first game of the season.
Everton were competitive in both games but, undermined by a series of injuries, struggled to create clear chances. In the absence of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin they have failed to convert the opportunities that have fallen their way.
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Following the 2-1 defeat at Villa Park, Holgate said he had seen enough from his teammates to be confident "we are going to be good and strong this season". He added: "I think we showed good spirit to keep going but, 2-0 down away from home, it is always going to be difficult. I think we know that. I think the game was quite even, I think we had chances to go and score goals but, ultimately, spirit needs to start turning into results for us, we know that. You can look at it as sort of a positive - the way we kept going - but it's got to start turning into results, we know that."
Everton have started the season a team in transition both by choice and necessity. This is the first transfer window in which Lampard and director of football Kevin Thelwell have had an opportunity to shape the squad - but serious injuries this month to Calvert-Lewin, Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina have hit preparations for the campaign. New signings Conor Coady and Amadou Onana made their Everton debuts against Villa but both are still acquiring match fitness following their moves to Everton. Holgate believes progress is on the horizon though.
He said: "I think we showed positive signs but it's got to start ending in results. I think as a team we look strong and I think, especially in the first half, we had our chances and they had their chances and it was just one of those days really where it could have gone either way. I think if it was 2-1 to us it wouldn't have been unfair as a result but it wasn't and we have lost, we know that we have got to turn this into winning games but I think if we keep performing and keep getting better as a team and getting to know each other and keep going, I think we will be fine."
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