West Ham United piled up the pressure for Frank Lampard as they beat 19th-placed Everton 2-0 at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Jarrod Bowen scored twice in the first half to help the Hammers escape the bottom half of the table, dropping the Toffees to 19th as the loud home fans chanted, “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” at Lampard.
Last weekend’s Everton loss to Southampton at Goodison Park was marred by unpleasant scenes as Toffees fans demanded explanations from players beyond the field.
The atmosphere of the visiting crowd did not significantly improve after the opening 45 minutes.
Despite having the majority of the ball in the early going, Lampard’s team did not do much with it, and with 35 minutes remaining, they were punished for their inaction.
After Yerry Mina cleared Vladimir Coufal’s corner, it appeared like the opportunity for a goal was lost, but Kurt Zouma flicked the ball back in and headed it back into Bowen’s path, who pushed the ball home from close range.
To help West Ham gain momentum, Bowen barely managed to remain onside. Then, in the 42nd minute, the 26-year-old took advantage of more Toffees defensive errors to double the Hammers’ advantage.
Bowen had the easy chore of scoring his second goal of the game with aplomb after Michail Antonio sprinted down the right-hand side and advanced into the box.
Before halftime, Lampard’s shell-shocked team came agonizingly close to cutting the lead, but Alex Iwobi hit the woodwork after receiving a fortunate bounce of the ball in the box.
After the half, the Everton manager replaced Seamus Coleman and Vitaly Mykolenko with Dwight McNeil and Tom Davies, and the Merseyside team pushed valiantly to get back into the game.
Just before the hour mark, Lukasz Fabianski saved a low Idrissa Gueye strike.
The Everton goalkeeper narrowly stopped West Ham from getting a third goal in the 67th minute by diverting Emerson Palmieri’s angled shot onto the woodwork. From Fabianski to Jordan Pickford.
Everton was unable to claw their way back into the game in the closing minutes, leaving Lampard’s future even more in doubt before a matchup with league leaders Arsenal on February 4.
West Ham, who are now in 16th place, play Derby County in the FA Cup’s fourth round on January 30.
Will Everton Sack Frank Lampard After West Ham Loss?
Frank Lampard worries that his position as Everton manager is on the line in today’s match against West Ham.
A loss and a poor showing at the London Stadium, according to sources inside the struggling Merseyside club, will likely result in the ex-England and Chelsea icon being fired.
Additionally, it is believed that the players’ morale was negatively impacted by the fact that no signings were made in January.
A source stated that: “The game against West Ham is make or break.”
“The two recent performances against Southampton, and particularly against Brighton, mean Lampard is on borrowed time. A third performance like that and it will most likely be curtains for him.”
“There’s a really low feeling around the club at the moment as it’s obvious they need reinforcements, but there’s hardly been any activity.”
“There is a feeling that perhaps the club is waiting to see if they will be bringing in a new manager before the end of January, and that’s why Lampard hasn’t been given the chance to freshen things up.”
“There is also the financial fair play situation but it’s a mess.”
Lampard reportedly sought Danny Ings, a new West Ham striker.
But despite Ings’ enthusiasm in a transfer because he was drawn to the prospect of moving to the North West, Everton were only able to offer the former Aston Villa striker a loan contract.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin will leave Everton at the end of the current campaign.
Newcastle United is interested in the England striker and would have even signed him in January if it weren’t for the player’s injury issues.
According to futballnews, Frank Lampard has informed the Everton board that he must keep his top three players, Jordan Pickford, Anthony Gordon, and Calvert-Lewin, if they are to have any chance of avoiding relegation.
But if Everton does fall, all three will be gone.
