Lampard: Everton have plenty of time to save themselves

Everton manager Frank Lampard does not believe one result will determine their Premier League future but knows this week's visit of Newcastle is crucial for confidence.

Sunday's 1-0 home loss to Wolves was an eighth defeat in nine matches and their nine-point return from the last 60 available has left them above the bottom three on goal difference only, with a first relegation in 71 years a genuine fear.

Thursday's home game against a revitalised Newcastle, who were 19th in late January and are now 14th and nine points clear of danger, is effectively a must-win game ahead of an April which includes matches against top-six sides Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and West Ham.

Lampard is keen to stress Everton have 12 matches remaining - more than all of their relegation rivals - and there should be no sense of panic, but his side cannot afford another devastating defeat this week.

"It is my job to be confident, to be positive, to be realistic and the realistic view is we have 12 games and some games in hand on other teams around us," he said.

"Of course they are only any good if win them and we are waiting for that moment when something turns in our favour.

"If things go in our favour on Thursday, it will look very different (to the Wolves game).

"When we are where we are at, there is a longer road to try to get out of this.

"We can't rely on one result to change it for us in a positive manner, just the same as we can't take on one result that we really wanted to win that didn't go our way.

"Maybe it will turn in our favour but all we can can do is work. We can't think about 'maybes' and 'what ifs' and what happens, about home games or away games."

Everton's away record is so woeful - they have won just once on the road this