Everton boss Frank Lampard believes the “character, determination and fight” which his team exhibited in their 1-1 draw with Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday is an example they need to follow going forwards.

His side had gone a goal down after Erling Haaland opened the scoring for City in the first half but came away with a point thanks to Demarai Gray’s spectacular effort from a distance.

With 11 minutes of time added on in the second half, his side defended resolutely to guard themselves from relentless waves of City attacks.

“For me I think, particularly at City, it’s character, personality and flight (which is the most important element of the game) because it’s 11 against 11 and we know how good they are,” Lampard said.

“It wasn’t a complicated gameplan defensively, a lot of stuff is getting across and doing your job ... keep going no matter what... That has to be the blueprint going forwards.

“I didn’t want to see a performance where a goal went in or something happened and our heads go down because when I see that I don’t like it. “I asked for the opposite and they gave me absolutely the opposite.”

After suffering a late heartbreak at home to Wolves in their previous game, when they lost 2-1, Lampard was happy to see his players respond to the task at hand against the champions.