Frank Lampard gives Everton fans perfect response after throwback performance

It was only Leeds United, flaky, injury-plagued Leeds United, a team with only two wins on the Premier League road this season and with their outstanding ­midfielder and outstanding striker still absent.

Frank Lampard will not be getting carried away.

But this is what he was hired to do, this is the sort of inspiration a grand, old club so desperately needed.

Why some players have suddenly decided to do it for Lampard is ­another debate, where this intensity came from is another prickly ­question that might not reflect well on some in blue jerseys.

But for now, it won’t matter.

Everton’s deficiencies were ­illuminated by the St James’ Park lights last Tuesday but the response to the new manager’s urgings and edicts in his first Premier League game at Goodison Park was vibrantly emphatic.

Just as a wonderful stadium shook on Tyneside as Newcastle were ­reviving under a newish manager, a wonderful stadium shook on ­Merseyside.

Just as that newish ­manager revelled in a rapport with ­passionate local support in Newcastle, a newish manager ­revelled in a rapport with passionate local support in Liverpool.

And while that defeat in the North East was a very early reality check, Lampard could not have asked for more from his players against Leeds.

Let’s face it, a variety of factors have given Lampard some early leeway.

He has winning pedigree as a player, is bright, articulate and – despite his own brief time as a coach being ­unspectacular – he must surely have learnt a fair bit from a variety of ­mentors.

But his biggest plus point? He’s not Rafa.

Fans will be more indulgent, fans will be more forgiving of his mistakes, fans will love his relatively youthful enthusiasm.

And on this limited body of ­evidence, so will the