Alan Stubbs has called on Everton's first-team to stand up and take responsibility for their poor performances that have led to Frank Lampard's dismissal.
It was confirmed earlier today the Blues had parted company with Lampard, marking another premature end to a manager's reign at Goodison Park. Pressure had been mounting on the 44-year-old after weeks of poor results, and Saturday's showing at West Ham United proved to be the final nail in the coffin.
There was little evidence to suggest Everton were going to find a way past the Hammers at the London Stadium, in what was another huge game against a relegation rival.
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David Moyes' men summoned the spirit to score twice through Jarrod Bowen as the visitors ended another fixture empty-handed. Issuing his reaction to Lampard's sacking, Stubbs is of the view the Everton players did little to suggest they were fighting for Lampard.
"I'm a little bit in two minds," he told Toffee TV. "I feel for Frank because I feel he has been dealt a hand that was very difficult in the first place but, in the last six weeks, I don't think the team has put the performances in to say 'we are behind the manager'.
"I thought Saturday was tepid; we could have been there for two weeks and not scored. We don't look a threat and the players just went through the motions. Unfortunately, as we've seen with Everton over the past six or seven years, one person always takes the fall - and it's the manager. I like Frank, I think he is a really nice guy and he got Everton. It was the first time in quite a few years that there was a relationship between the fans and the manager. Unfortunately, it just hasn't worked out the way we would have all liked it to."
Currently winless in ten matches, Stubbs believes the current crop are heading into matches with the mentality of a side who have accepted their fate before a ball has even been kicked.
"I think we look like a team that has accepted it," he said. "We accept getting beat now. I don't see players rolling their sleeves up, doing something about it. If someone lifted someone at Goodison and got a yellow card, they're the type of things that get the fans going. No matter what type of players you have at Everton, the fans want to see you play for the jersey.
"I'm not sitting here and saying the players don't look like they're not trying, because I don't think any player has gone onto the pitch with the mindset of not trying. But they have to do so much more than what they're showing right now because the manager has carried the responsibility, but the players have to stand up. What I saw on Saturday was not a team that represented Everton Football Club."
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