Frank Lampard has been forced to spell out some harsh home truths to his Everton players about their precarious league position.
Publicly, Lampard has appeared supportive and positive in his first six weeks at Goodison Park. But after five defeats in his first six Premier League games, he says the gloves have come off behind the scenes.
Ahead of Thursday's vital clash with Newcastle, he has told his squad they need to deal with the pressure of the relegation battle and the frustrations of fans who booed them off after Sunday's 1-0 home defeat by Wolves.