Lampard Hails 'Immense Everton Spirit'

Frank Lampard says the “immense spirit of the Club... and heart and soul in the team” inspired “a special night in Everton’s history” after victory over Crystal Palace confirmed a 69th straight season of top-flight football.

Everton were staring at the potential of a final-day cliffhanger at Arsenal when Palace scored twice inside a quarter hour for a 2-0 half-time lead.

Manager Lampard responded by sending on Dele, altering the team’s formation and urging his players to “energise the crowd” with a strike soon after the restart.

Michael Keane answered the call for a quick goal, netting on 54 minutes. And after Richarlison equalised with his sixth goal in 10 matches, Dominic Calvert-Lewin – a player Lampard has been without for large chunks of his three-and-a-half month reign – conjured the decisive moment with five minutes remaining.

“What we've just seen, it's Premier League safety, it's not Champions League,” said Lampard. “But what it means to the Club and in those circumstances [is huge].

“The character of this club, the fans and the players, just got us through. The spirit of the Club was immense.

"There are a lot of people who work so hard for that; the players, the board, the fans, my staff. It's a huge night for Everton and now we want to take that forward.



"Relegation battles are tough and an experience in their own right. The support I've had from the Owner [Farhad Moshiri], Chairman [Bill Kenwright], Denise [Barrett-Baxendale, Chief Executive], and what the fans have brought in. is hard to create.

"Everyone can see the heart and the soul of the team, that's why we stayed up.

“The support was so important. We needed them tonight, at 2-0 it was easy to expect the worst.

“But they've been doing it for a long time, since the Chelsea game [1-0 win on 1 May].

“Again, the atmosphere was another level.

“They [supporters] want success and when they see a team giving it, they react instantly. Those moments were priceless."

Lampard summoned Dele for the second half after Everton fell behind to strikes from Palace forwards Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jordan Ayew.

There was a switch to a back-four, too, with Dele featuring in a three-man midfield.



The Everton manager, however, downplayed the tactical element of his alterations, insisting this was a night to utilise the intangible qualities of energy and personality.

“You have to turn to people and inspire them and Dele came on and was amazing,” added Lampard.

"My point was, it's not the tactical change, it's the emotions and the character. Can you energise the crowd and score an early goal? Then it's the energy, the players deserve immense credit.

"If we don't get that first goal, it's difficult to win. That goal was crucial, once it went in you felt the players, and the night... there was something special there. The crowd reacted, we created a special night in Everton's history."

Calvert-Lewin has started fewer than half of Lampard's Premier League games in charge – eight of 17 – and only once played three successive matches from the beginning for the former Chelsea boss.



He returned for Sunday's meeting with Brentford, scoring his fourth goal of the campaign, and playing a second straight match here, delivered an archetypal Calvert-Lewin performance, dominating aerially, stretching Palace's backline and, ultimately, producing the clinching strike.

"Dominic's not been fit, even when he's been playing in my time here, it's been getting back from an injury," added Lampard.

"It's difficult to judge from the outside. In the past two games, you've seen a powerhouse of a centre-forward, one of the best.

"For me, he's the best out there as a forward who can leap. His goal was a huge one in Everton's history. He's had to suck it up this year and he's done it. He did something special."