Lampard threatens another overhaul after Everton knocked out of Carabao Cup by Bournemouth – ‘frustrating and disappointing’
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Frank Lampard said it was “frustrating” for Everton to be knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the circumstances they were by Bournemouth, which has taught him a lot.
Lampard made 11 changes for Everton’s Carabao Cup clash with Bournemouth. However, the rotation did not lead to a positive outcome. His side succumbed to a 4-1 defeat on the South Coast, which ends their journey in this season’s competition.
Reaching just the third round for the second consecutive season, Everton are turning their attention back to the Premier League pretty quickly.
They were never in front against Bournemouth, who took the lead via Jamal Lowe before doubling it courtesy of Junior Stanislas in the second half.
Demarai Gray pulled one back for Everton, but Emiliano Marcondes and Jaidon Anthony would score to take the game back away from them.
Bournemouth have therefore got into the fourth round for the first time since 2018. Everton, though, who went into the game one place above them in the Premier League, will have to wait for their involvement in the FA Cup to begin to have something else to think about.
Asked for his assessment of their elimination, Lampard said: “Frustrating and disappointing. A lot of players given opportunities to wear the shirt, to perform for the shirt, to help us get through to the next round of the cup. I know Everton fans hold cup runs dear.
“But I also have a job to do in terms of picking players that knock on your door, train every day, want to play every week, and they have to produce, as Gary [O’Neil] did today with their squad.
“Because to get through this round means that we’d have another game in December and maybe two in January, or whatever it is. We all want that, so the players have to show that the squad’s durable enough to play those games and at the minute, tonight we didn’t show that at all.”
Work to do for Everton
Everton had eight shots in the match, but only two were on target. Identifying finishing as something to improve, Lampard revealed what they would be working on.
He said: “Train, repeat what we do all the time and the rest is up to the players to deliver in those moments.
“You can miss them, and we want to create chances to get in there and we created a couple of good ones. But you can’t win games at this level if you don’t take them.”
Of course, the goal came from Gray, who was a substitute. Lampard was at least pleased with his impact, having known he had to change things up.
The manager said: “Good from Demarai, good impact into the game. Alex [Iwobi] and Dwight [McNeil], they gave impact into the game. I had to make those changes at that point because as I say, you’re giving people chances.
“And when I say this, I want to make it clear to the Evertonians as well that there’s a lot of experience and appearances in that starting lineup throughout the team.
“So the players who have come in really have to take that one on the chin in terms of how they’ve performed today. Because some things were not good enough and that’s just the reality of it.
“They have to take that on the chin and move forward.”
Lampard looks towards next Bournemouth battle
Coincidentally, Everton’s next game is also against Bournemouth, this time in the league. Their meeting on Saturday will be each’s last fixture before the World Cup.
On that encounter and how it might be different, Lampard said: “I’ll approach it as I see fit. Whatever team I pick, they’ll certainly know the importance of the game on Saturday and what three points means to this club at the minute going into the break.
“It’s a huge thing. And will it look different? Of course. I’m not even going to lie now and say it won’t look different in terms of personnel.
“I’ve learnt a lot tonight so it makes some of the decisions easier.”
Finally, the ex-England midfielder gave injury updates on Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
He confirmed: “Amadou’s got a niggle that we’re going to find out more about by tomorrow, same as Gana Gueye, and Dominic we’re waiting on some more specialists so we’ll see.”
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