Date published: Thursday 3rd March 2022 11:03 – Jason Soutar
Frank Lampard heaped praise on Boreham Wood after his Everton side beat them 2-0 in the FA Cup fifth round.
Non-league Wood had not conceded a single goal in the competition going into Thursday’s match at Goodison Park.
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They famously knocked out Bournemouth in the fourth round, winning 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium.
Everton turned out to be a step too far for Boreham Wood, however, after Solomon Rondon scored a second-half double for the Toffees.
Lampard wasn’t too pleased with his side’s first-half performance but praised Wood as he says his players “got the job done” in the end.
He told BBC Sport: “Clean sheet but we were too slow in the first half and Boreham Wood were organised, we did not give them enough problems. Second half we were more urgent, a brighter performance and we created a lot.
“You need that goal to give you comfort in a game like this and when we got it, it was comfortable. All credit to them, they made it tough for us. It was a big night for them but we got the job done.
“There are lots of factors, it was a huge, huge night for them, well deserved and they had a massive support that travelled up. It was the game of their life for some of the players and they gave it their all.
“They are well coached, well organised and are no fools. If you don’t score early, there may be nerves around the ground and I understand that. Fair play to them, I wish them well going forward.
“We train at a level and play at a level in the Premier League which you have to make that count. In the first half we didn’t, we made it easy for them but when we raised the level and moved the ball quicker, you can see spaces open up and created from that.”
On Rondon’s performance, Lampard continued: “Pleased for him. Since I came here he has not been a starter for me but when you call on him he has qualities. I see it in training. He was patient with his chances and comes in and scores two goals, you need goalscorers on your team, with the position we are in in the league.”
Everton will face Crystal Palace in the quarter-final, with Lampard saying he would have preferred a home draw.
“It is a really tough match, you want a home draw,” he said on the draw. “You have to focus in the league in the meantime. You have to believe for the fans and players to make a trip to Wembley if we get past Palace.”