Neil Warnock has told Frank Lampard his side must 'go back to basics' as they Newcastle United later this week. The two sides have had contrasting fortunes since the Magpies' 3-1 win over Everton at St. James' Park.
Eddie Howe's side have lost just once in the six games since that meeting - winning four and drawing once. In that time, the Magpies have leapfrogged the Toffees and are well on their way to securing their Premier League status ahead of next season.
In contrast, Everton have won just once in the same timeframe - a 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Leeds United. Lampard is under increasing pressure to pick up points having lost the last four consecutive games.
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Former, Middlesbrough manager Warnock has questioned the Toffees character ahead of Newcastle's trip to Merseyside later this week. “Do you think they’ve got a John Terry at the back?" Warnock asked on talkSPORT's White and Jordan.
"Do you think they’ve got somebody that’s going to grab hold of somebody by the shirt? I don’t see that in the squad. Frank needs help on the pitch.
"He needs one or two leaders. He needs people to help him in that dressing room. When things aren’t going right, you’ve got to get your senior players to do the work and, I might be wrong because I’m not inside the dressing room, but I don’t see the leaders.
“He did ever so well for Chelsea. He really helped them win the Champions League, with what he did at the club. I don’t think he’s ever been in this position as a manager – it’s not a nice situation.
"Your mouth’s dry, you have a bad taste in your mouth – it’s horrible being down there! You need to go back to basics. You know what I’m like, get your pads on and have a five-a-side – let’s see pulls out of tackles now!”
Warnock has built up quite the reputation for guiding sides into the Premier League and knows a thing or two about Premier League survival. The former Boro boss claims Newcastle's opposition need to find a way to win games under pressure.
He said: “It’ll be hard at the minute for [Lampard].I look at managers when they’re struggling and you look at their body language – sometimes you just don’t really know what you’re going to do next.
“Frank’s in a difficult situation. [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin, I think is such an important player for them, he’s got to get him fit. I don’t think that the defenders are all Premier League standard – not all of them – but one or two players could pull their finger and help the manager a bit.
“When you’re in a situation like Frank is, I don’t think it’s about ability. I don’t think it’s about passing, I think it’s about what you’ve got under your shirt. You get a taste in your mouth when you’re down there and it’s hard, but they’ve got to find that from somewhere. I do think they’ve got enough when they play together and if Calvert-Lewin can avoid injury.”
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