Relieved Lampard sees spirit in the Blues

Manager Frank Lampard celebrated Everton’s Premier League winner against Newcastle United on Thursday with such gusto he complained of a broken hand in the aftermath of what was an epic, and potentially vital, 1-0 victory at Goodison Park.

Alex Iwobi scored nine minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game to send Lampard, and the fans, into wild celebration as relief coursed through them with one small step forward in their fight against relegation.

“I think I’ve broken a bone in my hand,” Lampard told reporters. “After the goal I realised it was shaking and a bit sore, but you know what, after the three points I won’t be complaining.”

He had said before the game it was not a must-win match for Everton, but the reaction of the manager, players and fans on the final whistle suggest it was as they move three points clear of the drop zone.

“It was such an intense game, and what it means to the club... it is only three points, we know that, but they are precious at the moment. The nature of it, the spirit of it, the desire of the whole stadium, it was a really special evening,” Lampard said.

“I never thought it would be a beautiful game, it wasn’t one that I was going to over-analyse in a technical or tactical sense. There was quite a bit in our game I wasn’t mad on.

“But the one thing that will be the base of us staying in this league will be the spirit at this club and the togetherness. The players and the fans showed that. Both of them were amazing.”

The goal came after Everton had been reduced to 10 men. Referee Craig Pawson changed his mind from a yellow card to red on the encouragement of the Video Assistant Referee following a lunge by midfielder Allan on Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin.

For Lampard, who received an apology from the Premier League after the VAR missed a blatant handball late in their recent 1-0 loss to Manchester City, it was another incorrect call, which he said are stacking up against his side.

“It’s not a red card. In a short period of time, we’ve had the most blatant decisions go against us. You can’t tell me that it is clear and obvious the referee (Pawson) made the wrong decision,” he said. “We are waiting for the one that is going to go in our favour.”