It is a dangerous game reading into first impressions under any Everton manager, particularly one thrown into a fight for Premier League survival, but Goodison Park was a place transformed under Frank Lampard. The new Everton manager enjoyed a dream start and the biggest win of any managerial debut in the club’s history as Brentford were brushed aside in the FA Cup fourth round.
The first chants of “Super Frank, super Frankie Lampard” reverberated around the old stadium in the 65th minute, shortly after Mason Holgate had restored Everton’s two-goal lead against Thomas Frank’s team. Yerry Mina, Richarlison and Andros Townsend were also on the scoresheet in a performance of intensity, character and enterprise that had Goodison embracing Lampard and his intentions long before the final whistle. Brentford only fleetingly threatened to upset the script and were ultimately overrun.
“Today was really special, something I will never forget,” Lampard said. “There is a lot of work ahead of us but I can’t help but get caught up in the emotion of today. I can only thank the fans for their support of me from the moment I walked out of the tunnel and their support of the team throughout the game.”
A banner was draped over the front of the upper Gwladys Street End before kick off that read “Best of luck Frank”. Another, featuring Howard Kendall, the trophies won during his reign and “Nothing but the best, our motto is our standard” provided a little reminder of what is expected of any Everton manager. Premier League survival, however, is the immediate priority for the club’s sixth permanent manager in under six years.
“I need to calm things down now and work towards the league games we have coming up but today was important,” Lampard said. “I wanted us to have more possession and support each other better in possession. We are an Everton team and we must also be aggressive, and that was the base today.”
It was a competitive, physical contest from the outset with both sides struggling to create clear-cut opportunities, although the improvement in Everton’s desire for the ball and willingness to take the game to Brentford was immediate. Incisive runs from Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon were a prominent feature of the hosts’ display.
Lampard suffered an early setback when Ben Godfrey, who started on the left of a back three, pulled up with a serious looking hamstring injury. His replacement, Mina, made his mark in emphatic style 17 minutes later. Everton’s initial threat came from distance with Gordon curling a left-footed shot just over David Raya’s crossbar and André Gomes’s 25-yard drive forcing the goalkeeper to tip over.
Raya was making his first appearance since sustaining a knee injury against Leicester in October. It was also four months since Everton last scored a game’s opening goal. That sorry statistic was rectified from the corner that resulted from Gomes’s effort. Gray delivered an inswinger with pace and Mina, despite nearly having his shirt pulled off his back, planted an unstoppable header past Raya for the first goal of the Lampard era.
New signings Dele Alli and Donny van de Beek were introduced to the home crowd during the half-time interval. The two midfielders are ineligible for the FA Cup but will be in contention for Tuesday’s critical Premier League visit to Newcastle. Everton should arrive at St James’ Park with confidence renewed. Richarlison gave Lampard’s new team the comfort of a two-goal lead within minutes of the restart. Played in behind Pontus Jansson by a perfectly weighted chip from Allan, the Brazil international beat the advancing Raya with a composed finish under pressure.
Brentford reacted well. Ivan Toney instigated a feud with Jordan Pickford all afternoon but was on the receiving end when felled by the England goalkeeper as he raced on to Christian Nørgaard’s pass into the Everton area. Michael Oliver pointed to the spot and, as in Brentford’s 1-0 win over Rafael Benítez’s sorry team in November, Toney confidently beat Pickford with a cool penalty.
At other points this season Everton and their uncertain defence may have folded under pressure. Not this time. Holgate restored the hosts’ two-goal cushion when glancing in at close range after Mina had headed on another dangerous corner from Gray. The corner arrived after Gordon dispossessed Mads Bech Sørensen to create a chance out of nothing for Gomes. Just the kind of spirit and tenacity that Lampard craves, and had been lacking under Benítez. In stoppage time Townsend sealed an impressive victory with a low finish after a neat move involving fellow substitutes Cenk Tosun and Alex Iwobi. Goodison felt a different place.
