HAS FRANK MADE TOFFEES WORSE?

HOW different things felt just a month ago. Frank Lampard had won his first Everton game, 4-1 over Brentford in the FA Cup, and had got Goodison Park rocking again. There was some belief at last, a sense of hope. A 3-0 victory over Leeds in the Premier League a week later only strengthened those views.

Not any more. They are into the FA Cup quarter-final but three straight league defeats, no goals scored and eight conceded have left the Toffees just a point above the relegation zone. Games in hand help but the underlying numbers suggest things have got even worse than under Rafa Benitez — and it was bad then.