Everton boss Frank Lampard has suggested that he has no issues with the application and commitment of his side despite overseeing a 2-0 defeat to West Ham United on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides went into the game at the London Stadium sitting in the Premier League relegation zone and with their managers potentially facing the sack with another defeat.
That was reportedly due to be the case with David Moyes, but the Scot witnessed two Jarrod Bowen goals earn the Hammers a much-needed win.
While West Ham have moved into 15th position in the table, Everton are 19th, only saved from bottom spot through a late Aston Villa goal at Southampton.
Like last weekend, the club's board felt the frustration of the Toffees supporters, who are demanding changes behind the scenes at Goodison Park.
However, question marks remain over Lampard's future in the dugout, even with the support of his opposite number and ex-Everton boss Moyes.
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Although the Englishman was satisfied with aspects of his team's performance and "spirit", he admitted that they remained short in the final third.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Lampard said: "It was a strange game, we had a load of control possession wise but the killer instinct in their team was better than ours. In terms of the tactical control, we had a lot.
"It is a big job, I knew that when I took the job because we were looking at a relegation battle then. We had a big fight and stayed in the league. We lost Richarlison and now have tried to build around that so it is normal we are fighting again, when other clubs are trying to move on.
"I don't want to tell how Everton fans how to feel, my job its to give everything in the job here. We had a lot of possession, but were short in the final third.
"It is impossible for me to jump into the future, last season we were five points shy of safety with five or six games to go but as a club we have to move together. I cannot complain about the spirit of the players and how they approached the game. They may have passed it slow but we didn't find it in the final third."
Everton do not return to action until February 4 when they play host to leaders Arsenal.
Darren Plant
