Frank Lampard's players must follow Neville Southall's lesson like Everton cult hero did

A decade ago today, Denis Stracqualursi scored his only Premier League goal and while the Argentinian was never close to becoming one of Goodison Park’s greats, Everton could really players with his commitment to the cause right now.

New manager Frank Lampard started with a 4-1 victory at home to Brentford in the FA Cup – a biggest ever debut win for a Blues boss – but the honeymoon was soon over after the 3-1 loss to the Premier League’s second bottom club Newcastle United on Tuesday, a result that lifted the struggling Magpies to within a point of their visitors.

While Eddie Howe’s side showed they were up for the relegation dog fight, Lampard’s men wilted in the St James’ Park cauldron of noise.

We all know this Everton team can play. Their individual talents show they should be placed at least safely in mid-table if not challenging for Europe but Premier League matches are not played on paper.

It’s time for the under-achieving Blues to stand up and be counted as they face what Michael Keane this week admitted was “a huge game” at Goodison Park this weekend.

Leeds United are no shrinking violets, they never have been, but with just six points taken from the last 45 on offer (that equates to a paltry 15 over an entire season), it’s imperative that Everton make the most of home advantage here to stop the rot.

Last season, the Yorkshiremen recorded their first league win at the ground for over three decades since the day of Neville Southall’s half-time sit-in on August 25, 1990, but that of course was in front of an empty stadium and this encounter will be played in very different conditions.

Despite Southall’s frustrations that summer when he’d submitted at least three transfer requests, the legendary goalkeeper