West Ham United boss David Moyes has urged Everton to stick with head coach Frank Lampard following the Hammers' 2-0 win over the Toffees in the Premier League on Saturday.
Both Moyes and Lampard were under immense pressure to secure a positive result at the London Stadium, with their respective clubs beginning the weekend inside the relegation zone after enduring poor spells of form.
Although Everton dominated proceedings with 68% possession, West Ham came out on top courtesy of a first-half brace from Jarrod Bowen to take them out of the bottom three and end their seven-game winless run in the process.
The Toffees, meanwhile, have now won just one of their last 11 top-flight matches and remain 19th in the table, two points adrift of safety, with challenging encounters against league leaders Arsenal and rivals Liverpool up next.
West Ham's victory has inflicted more misery on Moyes's former club Everton, where the Scotsman was in charge for 11 years between 2002 and 2013.
With pressure mounting on Lampard's shoulders, Moyes has sympathised with his opposite number and is keen for the Toffees to give the 44-year-old more time to turn their fortunes around.
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"I really hope Everton stick with Frank. He is a top bloke from the times I've met him and conversations with him," Moyes told reporters after the match as quoted by football.london.
"When you're in the job, you know football manager is fair game. For a man to come in and ask another about a job. I'm guessing your editors have you to ask that. I would hate Everton to go down, they mean a lot to me."
Everton's under-fire majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri was attending his first game in 14 months, watching on alongside the club's directors including chairman Bill Kenwright, and the former has stated that it is "not his decision" to relieve Lampard of his duties.
Asked by Sky Sports News if Lampard's time in the dugout is up, Moshiri replied: "I cannot comment, It's not my decision".
Kenwright was asked the same questions and added: "It's been a tough run of results for us all and for Frank, but I would never say that to you ever. We have to start winning don't we? It's a bad time".
Lampard has won 12, drawn eight and lost 24 of his 44 games in charge of Everton across all competitions since replacing Rafa Benitez in January 2022.
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Moyes, meanwhile, expressed his delight after his West Ham side secured a "hugely important" win – their first in the Premier League since October 24.
"It was needed. We've not been in the best run of form but three points today was hugely important," the 59-year-old told BBC Match of the Day.
"We have not scored the goals and if you are on a run like that it can be very difficult. Defensively we have been OK, but it is our goalscoring which is a problem. Today we got a couple of goals which made a huge difference."
Asked about the pressure on him heading into Saturday's contest, Moyes added: "I've been pretty cool about it. I have had great support from the board, they are keen for me to stay and do well.
"We have changed a lot of players, a decision we took in March last year. The change has been difficult but the new players given a bit of time will help and become really good players here."
West Ham will now turn their attention to the FA Cup fourth round where they will face League One outfit Derby County at Pride Park on January 30.
Oliver Thomas
