Everton's dedicated travelling supporters have had far too little to cheer this season.
The collection of just six points from 16 away games - five of which came from the first four trips of the campaign - is a major factor underpinning the Blues' struggles. With Norwich, Southampton and Brighton among those on the calendar, as well as a host of London clubs, Everton have had to travel just over 400 miles for every point gained on the road.
The last away point came at Stamford Bridge, when Jarrad Branthwaite's goal helped what were then Rafa Benitez's Blues earn a draw on December 16. So not only has Frank Lampard not picked up a point away from Merseyside since taking over, the club is yet to pick up anything beyond Goodison Park in 2022.
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That run must be broken this week. It is hard to see a path to survival that doesn't include points from the next two games. Fortunately, in their opponents, Leicester City and Watford, Everton have two huge opportunities.
As well as Leicester played at Goodison last month they were unable to hold on for a win, Richarlison's late leveller coming after Everton created a glut of opportunities in the final minutes. And Brendan Rodgers' side now enter Sunday's game on the back of being knocked out of the Europa Conference League semi-finals by Roma. The heartbreak of that exit, combined with the mountain they have to climb to qualify for Europe through the Premier League, could leave them vulnerable to a rested Everton side with everything to play for.
Meanwhile, Watford have won just one of their last 11 league games. Their home form is worse than Everton's away form, the Hornets' last points at Vicarage Road coming in November against Manchester United. They have lost their last 11 on home soil and could be relegated this weekend.
For all the cliches about relegation releasing players from pressure, Watford surely present Everton's best opportunity of picking up a desperately-needed away win. The reality of Everton's situation is points on the road are now a necessity. As good as the recent home form has been in contrast, last Sunday's intense atmosphere - inside and outside Goodison Park - firing the team onto a vital win over Chelsea, the players have to be able to compete on unfamiliar territory if the unthinkable is to be avoided.
Lampard addressed this in the aftermath of that win, acknowledging the sensational backing his players were afforded at home may have the side effect of leaving a void they struggled to fill on their travels. He said: "When the club comes together at Goodison that is amazing and that is why results have been so good here. The negative is when we go away from home our players can’t replicate what we do here. That is the next challenge."
The fans will do their best at Leicester to replicate the backing given to the Blues in L4. Plans are underway for supporters to take their seats early, unfurl banners and provide a raucous soundtrack to the players' warm-up. Some are even set to provide a send-off for the players' coach as it departs Merseyside on Saturday.
As ever, one of football's most passionate fanbases is doing everything it can to help Everton on the pitch. Speaking ahead of the Leicester match, Lampard praised the travelling support and said the poor away record reflected solely on the players, not those travelling the length and breadth of the country to watch them.
Work at Finch Farm this week has concentrated on finding away to reward them for the first time since that trip to Stamford Bridge in the days before Christmas. It has sought to build on positives that have been visible in the last few away games - Everton held their own at Anfield for an hour and posed a genuine threat. Their pointless away run could well have ended on the other side of Stanley Park had controversial decisions fallen their way. At Burnley, after overcoming the shock of Nathan Collins' early goal, they fought back, gained the initiative and really should have come away from Turf Moor with more than just the pain of that catastrophic defeat.
Now is the time to convert performances away from Goodison into points. Time is running out and relying on the home ties with Brentford and Crystal Palace is a dangerous game. With Leeds United's next two fixtures being Arsenal and Chelsea, a win against Leicester or Watford could well lift Everton out of the bottom three. Not only would that be a significant boost for morale - it would also dramatically reduce the miles per point those travelling Everton fans have been forced to endure.
