Frank Lampard delivers strong message to Everton fans fearful of relegation

Frank Lampard has delivered a message to Everton fans fearful of relegation.

If Burnley avoid defeat at Brentford on Saturday, the Blues will kick off Sunday’s home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the drop zone.

Everton have won just two of their last 19 Premier League matches and their current tally of 22 points from 25 games is their lowest ever total at this stage of a Premier League season.

Lampard said: “The message to the fans from my point of view, and I think I keep saying it in my answers here, is that I’m very much ready for the fight and the challenge.

“Nothing has surprised me since coming in.

“You want positive results every week but the reality is that it wasn’t always going to be that way.

“The fans will see that in us on Sunday I’m sure in terms of how we approach the game I hope.

“The message for them has to be ‘we appreciate their support and I remain very optimistic and confident about the team because I have belief in the team but the reality is that we need results.

“It’s a question that’s quite difficult because I’m not going to sit here and kid the fans, their position is what it is but what we have to show is the fight and the character to stay in the league as a base and perform at a level that wins us games.”

Norwich City, Newcastle United, Leeds United and Watford – who were beaten 4-0 by Everton’s next opponents – were all in action last night.

Asked if he keeps an eye on what his team’s relegation rivals are doing, Lampard said: “It was my son’s first birthday yesterday, which has flown by, so I was kind of juggling, as we do as parents, all of us at times – he’s not that aware of his birthday obviously – to do the family thing but watch the games of course.

“There’s a balance to