Lampard is a dead man walking after Everton humiliation by Brighton

Everton manager Frank Lampard was left fighting for his Everton future after an abject 4-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion increased the scrutiny on his reign and heightened the club’s relegation concerns.

As Everton suffered an eighth defeat in their past ten Premier League matches to remain only a point above the relegation zone, Lampard conceded that his year-long tenure would come under the microscope.

Everton conceded three goals in six minutes at the start of the second half and while there were chants of “Sack of the board” from home supporters, it is Lampard’s position that is under the most threat at a club who have had seven permanent managers since the end of the 2012-2013 season.

Lampard did not emerge from the dressing room until more than 30 minutes after the final whistle, and said: “It is not a case of fear [for his job], it is a case of keep working.

“I cannot control the talk or the decisions when you are around this area of the table. This is what happens. When you lose a game like this, I absolutely understand any reaction. I don’t listen to too much of it because if you do it becomes your focus point.

 “Since the minute I got here we were in a relegation battle and that is something you have to handle, and it might mean results or days like this. You just have to focus on going again because those are the things you can control.

“I am very confident in myself and will work to turn it around. I cannot predict the future. We have to try and win games and the next ones in front of us are Manchester United [in the FA Cup on Friday] and Southampton in the league.”

The Everton owner, Farhad Moshiri, was not present again at Goodison Park and has taken more of a hands-off approach in the day-to-day running of the club in the past 12 months.

That followed the recruitment process which led to Lampard’s appointment in January last year, after the sacking of Rafael Benítez. Moshiri had initially wanted to appoint the Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira, only for a backlash from supporters to prompt a rethink.

In Moshiri’s absence, the club’s chairman, Bill Kenwright, and chief executive, Denise Barrett-Baxendale, watched as Everton floundered and Brighton cut loose after the interval.

“It was three goals which finished the game,” Lampard said. “It was mistakes by us, and against a team of Brighton’s quality, that finishes the game.” The manager would not discuss the chants against the hierarchy, who are likely to speak today to decide on his future.