Frank Lampard encouraged by Everton even in defeat - but grim Burnley trip looms large

Frank Lampard is no closer to finding out if Everton have the cojones for a relegation battle – although this defeat will hurt like a kick in the codpiece.

The Toffees manager had questioned his players' fortitude in adversity after last month's FA Cup surrender at Crystal Palace. In fairness, this was their most committed away performance on Lampard's watch - but it still wasn't enough to beat West Ham when they were on autopilot ahead of Thursday night's Europa League quarter-final against Lyon.

Briefly, Mason Holgate's equaliser gave Lampard hope that the tide might be turning in his old stamping ground. But in the land of pie and mash, Everton could only come up with shortcrust – and no gravy. They conceded a poor second goal when they were on top, and Michael Keane's red card sealed the Toffees' fate.

That's three games in a row they have finished a man short after Allan and Jonjoe Kenny's expulsions against Newcastle and Wolves. Everton are the first team to suffer three dismissals in as many Premier League games since Watford in December 2017, when Marvin Zeegelaar, Tom Cleverley and Troy Deeney ran the early bath.

Lampard's away record to date reads like a threatening letter - played five, lost five, two goals scored, 16 against – and Wednesday night's trip to Burnley now feels like a gravediggers' duel. This fixture always revives memories of Lampard's old man dancing around the corner flag, like a Morris dancer doing laps of a Maypole, after heading the winner in an FA Cup semi-final replay 42 years ago. But Everton, nursing the worst away record in the country – just six points from 14 excursions – need results, not nostalgia.

Their travel sickness wasn't helped when on-loan Manchester United