Frank Lampard believes late Everton draw proves his side's mettle in relegation scrap

Frank Lampard says the late draw against Leicester proves that his Everton players have the desire to fight for Premier League survival.

The Toffees are perched perilously above the relegation zone and it looked like they were about to suffer a damaging defeat to the Foxes.

However, Richarlison bagged a late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw that opens up a four-point gap between them and the relegation zone.

While it wasn't the result Lampard was hoping for, he says it should silence some of those who have claimed Everton do not have the stomach for the fight.

"A late goal that gets you a draw feels a real positive," Lampard said.

"That is something we want to change. As the chances were coming and going towards the end of the game - Seamus (Coleman) has a good chance, Richy (Richarlison) had a good chance - you worry.

"Something we haven't been able to do well enough in my time here is draw games when we are either are not playing as well as we should do - I think that was the case in the first half but not the second - and other games recently against West Ham and Burnley where are performances were good and we got nothing.

"As long as we stay in games and keep fighting in games then anything is possible.

"It's a small run but it is the bounce of coming off a good result against Manchester United to get another point on the board.

"It can be an easy thing to throw at the players that they lack spirit or desire and they certainly don't.

"We are not in a time for pretty patterns and an idea of our philosophy for the next two or three years, the first phase is can we fight or show character to stay in this league and they showed that tonight."

Burnley will get a change to reduce the gap at the bottom to just one point when they host Southampton on Thursday.