Frank Lampard could not have asked for a better start to his Everton managerial career.
The Blues ran out 4-1 winners on Saturday, beating Premier League rivals Brentford in the FA Cup thanks to goals from Yerry Mina, Richarlison, Mason Holgate and Andros Townsend.
And to a cap off a near-perfect afternoon for Lampard and the delighted Everton supporters, transfer deadline day signings Donny van de Beek and Deli Alli were introduced onto the pitch at half-time.
They could both make their debuts at St James' Park on Tuesday in the Blues' big Premier League clash at Newcastle United.
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But for now Everton supporters are still smiling about the win over Brentford.
And here's what the national media had to say about the Blues' performance in Lampard's first game in charge.
Andy Hunter of the Guardian wrote:
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.”
Carl Markham of the Independent wrote:
The change in atmosphere from the final days of Rafael Benitez – and even Duncan Ferguson’s one match as caretaker last month, when there were protests against the board – could not have been more stark.
Home fans even got to see two signings of genuine quality in Dele Alli and Donny Van De Beek, albeit only as half-time appearances as both were cup-tied after previous outings for Tottenham and Manchester United respectively.
Instead it was one of Benitez’s signings, Demarai Gray, who got the Lampard era off to a positive start against an out-of-sorts Brentford with a number of driving runs at the visitors’ defence which highlighted a change of emphasis from the defence-first approach of his predecessor.
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Jon Bernstein of the Daily Mail wrote:
In his first 90 minutes, Frank Lampard achieved a few things Rafa Benitez failed to manage in six months.
Everton scored four times, something that never happened under the Spaniard, and defenders Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate grabbed their first goals since the Carlo Ancelotti era.
Most importantly, chants of 'Super Frankie Lampard' echoed around Goodison from fans who had stayed silent for his predecessor, apart from the occasional shout of abuse.
There will be tougher tests ahead than modest Brentford but it was a very decent start nonetheless particularly as Lampard couldn’t pick new signings Dele Alli and Donny van de Beek (both cup-tied) or injured duo Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Mike McGrath of The Telegraph wrote:
As Frank Lampard saluted fans on the four sides of Goodison Park, they sang his name. 'Super, super Frank…..” had only started ringing out when the fourth goal went in and it signalled a new era being under way.
Lampard’s first match as Everton could hardly have gone better. A hard-fought FA Cup victory but a convincing scoreline and goals coming in different ways. It was the biggest win for an Everton managerial debut and came after just four days of training.
The noisy reception before kick-off when he emerged from the tunnel pointed to fans being ready for a fresh start. Two hours later their new manager also brought them a change of fortunes as they recorded their first victory at Goodison Park in two months.
Fans unfurled a banner reading 'Good Luck Frank' to mark the post-Rafa Benitez era and there was a mood of optimism as Yerry Mina, Richarlison, Mason Holgate and Andros Townsend found the net, with Ivan Toney replying.
