Soccer - Everton's 68-year top flight run in danger after Burnley loss

BURNLEY, England : Everton's run of 68 years in the English top flight is in real danger of ending after they slumped to a 3-2 defeat at fellow strugglers Burnley on Wednesday leaving manager Frank Lampard grasping for answers.

Everton have won two of the nine games since former Chelsea player and manager Lampard was brought in to secure their top-flight survival after Rafa Benitez was sacked in January.

The Merseysiders gave up a 2-1 lead in the second half with an awful defensive mistake from Ben Godfrey helping the Clarets create an 85th minute winner converted by Maxwel Cornet.

"The only talking we can do is on the pitch. We've got nine games to play for. I will give everything for these nine games," said Lampard.

His team looked distraught at the final whistle but the words from Lampard's opposite number Sean Dyche were damning.

"You sense a team doesn't know how to win a game. I said to our players that this lot don't know how to win a game away from home," said Dyche when asked what he told his team at the break after two Richarlison penalties gave the visitors the advantage.

Everton have one away win all season and the worst record on the road in the division with six points from 15 games.

Burnley certainly played with a belief which belied their own lowly position but the win moves them above Watford to 18th place, one point away from Everton and the safety zone.

TOUGH GAMES

Everton host Manchester United on Saturday - the first of a series of tough games in their run-in - and Lampard said his team's self-belief was now the main issue.

"The effort is there, belief will be tested," he said.

"When you lose it's a test of belief. The players are disappointed at the end. In terms of the general performance I didn't hate it at