A dominant display from Premier League opponents Bournemouth was enough to condemn Everton to an embarrassing 4-1 Carabo Cup defeat at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Goals from Jamal Lowe and Junior Stanislas in the first half - before substitute Demarai Grey halved the deficit - were followed by late efforts from Emiliano Marcondes and Jaidon Anthony.
It was a performance that had the Everton away end emptied by the time Lampard and his players came to say their piece after the full-time whistle. However, there could be a sense of deja vu for Blues supporters later this week when Lampard and his side face a rematch at the Vitality Stadium in the final round of Premier League fixtures before the World Cup break.
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Here's how the national media reacted to the humbling defeat for the Blues.
Emma Smith, via BBC Sport
"Lampard went even further, completely switching his starting XI from Saturday's defeat by Leicester, including giving a first Everton start to summer signing James Garner.
"Everton had the better of the first-half chances thereafter - inside the opening 16 minutes Tom Davies blasted a one-on-one over, Travers saved well from Garner and Anthony Gordon misdirected a header over the bar from six yards.
"Gordon should have been sent off for a two-footed lunge on Jordan Zemura shortly before half-time, but instead got away with his seventh booking in 14 games this season and should be thankful for the lack of VAR in the EFL Cup.
"Everton's supporters voiced their displeasure at Lampard throughout the game for his decision to make so many changes, upset at the chance of a first major trophy since 1995 being given up."
Adrian Kajumba, via Daily Mail
"About the only consolation for Frank Lampard is he has a quick chance to right this wrong and ease some of the pressure mounting on him.
"Everton return to Bournemouth on Saturday and only one result will do for Lampard after his side were deservedly dumped out in last night's warm-up.
"Yet another setback, especially one as error-strewn as this, did nothing to help his plight. Meanwhile, none of the fringe players he started in his entirely-changed team can complain when back on the sidelines on Saturday."
Ian Winrow, via The Telegraph
"Frank Lampard was fiercely critical of his Everton side’s performance as they slumped out of the League Cup, increasing the pressure on the manager four days before they return to the Vitality Stadium for a crucial Premier League meeting.
"Lampard made 11 changes to starting line-up but insisted his team should have been more than capable of progressing into the fourth round. Instead, they trailed from the moment Jamal Lowe put Bournemouth ahead in the seventh minute and rarely looked like working their way back into the game.
"Demarai Gray’s 66th-minute goal was the only positive for the visitors but that came after Junior Stanislas had doubled the lead following a Mason Holgate error early in the second half and Emiliano Marcondes and Jaidon Anthony completed the home side’s comfortable win late on."
Joe Thomas, via Liverpool ECHO
"The empty seats told you everything you needed to know.
"The lifeblood of Everton Football Club, the defining factor in the club's Premier League survival, have once again been superb over a six-week period that has seen them clock up thousands of miles in pursuit of their true love. There have been difficult days among those weeks - the failures to register a shot on target across 180 minutes at Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United among them.
"But throughout, the travelling Blues have backed their side. Spirit of the Blues lived on even as progress stuttered. Yet after 80 minutes of a south coast horror show Everton 's supporters began to leave the Vitality Stadium to the humiliation of their rival fans singing: "We want five." They deserved better. Far better."
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