Frank: I laid it on the line to stars

FRANK LAMPARD delivered a series of home truths after Everton’s collapse against Southampton and warned his players there is no room for selfishness.

Everton’s manager knows his position remains in peril and the consequences of losing against fellow strugglers West Ham tomorrow could be grave.

Lampard, who has been in regular discussions with owner Farhad Moshiri, has overseen a run of 10 defeats in 13 games and must find a response.

It was significant, then, to listen to his assessment of what happened in the aftermath of last Saturday’s calamitous 2-1 loss. Lampard insisted he did not give his stars the ‘hairdryer treatment’ in the dressing room but it was clear he left his players in no doubt about his feelings.

‘The players don’t want to be in this position,’ said Lampard. ‘So they should have human reactions after games. I had things to say because from my point of view, in the position we are in, we have to fight and be ready for the fight.

‘If the players in the dressing room are disappointed we lost, that’s good. If they want to fight and be a good team-mate, not think about themselves, think about the team and try to get the result next week and train with great intensity, whether they are starting or not, that is all I want.’

He added: ‘They have to think about what is the way out of difficult moments. I’ve been in many in my career and the only way is work, focus and being unselfish about it — putting yourself to the limit — and that is exactly where we are.’