Frank Lampard sees positives for Everton despite losing to West Ham

Frank Lampard insisted he’d seen enough of Everton’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham to suggest they could break away from relegation issues.

Goals from Aaron Creswell and Jarrod Bowen, both sides of a Mason Holgate equaliser, doomed the travel-sick Toffees to another loss on the road.

Everton remain just one place above the drop zone and face a big match against fellow contenders Burnley on Wednesday.

Boss Lampard said: “It’s disappointing. We earned at least a point from the game over general play.

“It was an afternoon when some circumstances spoke against us. It can happen. But we played well; the game plan, the discipline, the character.

“We created enough chances and it’s not easy to create against West Ham so there are things we can be positive and happy about.

“Not the result but we have 10 games left and if we keep going like this things will change and we’ll be fine.”

Richarlison wasted two one-on-ones in the first half, while Creswell opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick from 25 yards before half-time.

Holgate, only on the pitch after Donny Van De Beek was injured warming up, equalized with a deflected shot from a corner.

But the Toffees were undone when Jordan Pickford saved Mikhail Antonio’s shot and Bowen, who was back after a month with a foot injury, snapped the rebound.

To add to Lampard’s misery, captain Michael Keane was sent off – Everton’s third red card in three games – after a second foul on Antonio.

Hammers boss David Moyes said he felt his former club had enough quality to stay up there and Lampard smiled: ‘He says that easily – but I appreciate the sentiment.

“If he meant to see us today and if we continue with this form and replicate that, then I agree. But we’re in the position we’re in with 10 games left.

“Maybe Richarlison will score next time he goes through, or maybe our free kick will go in the top corner. We’ve got some inappropriate tackles going on at the moment.”

A third straight home win kept West Ham in the hunt for another top-six result and set them well for Thursday night’s Europa League big quarter-finals against Lyon.

“Sometimes it could have been a little cleaner, but at this stage of the season you’re happy to get the points,” said Moyes.