Hackett View: Zaha tried to fool ref v Everton
We’re delighted to welcome former Premier League referee Keith Hackett as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Everton.
Keith Hackett has suggested that Wilfried Zaha is a player who tries it on with the referee following Crystal Palace’s draw with Everton on Monday.
The Ivory Coast international started for the Eagles as they took on Carlo Ancelotti’s side at Goodison Park, with a late goal from Michy Batshuayi seeing them rescue a point.
As well as being a constant threat for Palace throughout the game, Zaha was also very vocal with the referee, with tensions spilling over even after the full-time whistle had blown.
Talking exclusively to Goodison News, former referee Hackett expressed his belief that Zaha was trying to draw referee Kevin Friend into an argument during the game against the Blues.
Hackett said: “I think he’s [Zaha] got a short fuse. I think he gets frustrated. He does get fouled, but he does go to ground easily, and players know that.
“He always has something to say on the field, both towards the referee and towards the opponent.
“I’ve come across players like this, what you tend to do is ignore them. It goes over your left hand shoulder, you don’t look at the guy, you just ignore him.”
Though Zaha has undoubtedly earned an unfair reputation as a player who frequently dives, the forward has been known to overdo it on occasion.
In that sense he is someone that you’d want to have play in your team, with Crystal Palace often benefitting from his behaviour, but he isn’t someone who you want to play against.
Theatrics aside the Ivorian is a top class player – it’s just a shame he has to complain and contest so much in every game he features.
In other Everton news, Carlo Ancelotti has shared an injury update on key Everton duo following the draw with Palace.
Be sure to follow Goodison News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on Everton and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Campbell.