LAMPARD LOVING THE ‘ALL

FRANK LAMPARD credited a ‘team effort’ for Everton’s new-found solidity as they kept a first clean sheet since November to beat Leeds.

Goals from Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane and Anthony Gordon handed the Toffees a convincing win at Goodison Park to ease their growing relegation fears.

But it was the Toffees’ work off the ball that most pleased the manager, rather than their attacking threat.

Lampard said: “Credit to the lads, defending is a team effort and it starts from the front.

“That’s what was so enjoyable and good about today, the frontmen and wide men jumping out to people, the compact nature of the team.

“And then, when you do have to defend, which Leeds will always make you do, we dealt with things well in the box.

“It’s a good thing for the team to feel the confidence of a clean sheet, I know it’s been a while.

“We’ll keep working on that and it’s so integral to where we want to be. It was a huge part of the game for us today.”

Everton evidenced their intent to defend from the front in the first minute, winning the ball high before Dominic Calvert-Lewin played in Gordon for a chance he could only scuff when a goal looked certain.

Other opportunities came and went during a period of relentless early pressure, but the hosts only had to wait until the 10th minute to open the scoring.

The goal came courtesy of Coleman, who bravely stooped to head in at the back post after Calvert-Lewin had diverted a low Donny van de Beek cross in that direction.

To their credit, Leeds began showing their