Sky pundit: About time Everton got benefit of the doubt v Chelsea after ‘horrendous’ decisions
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Kevin Campbell was glad to see an “aggressive” Everton side get the benefit of the doubt from the referee after recent “horrendous” decisions.
A combative Toffees side were in the faces of Chelsea players from the off in the crucial 1-0 win on Sunday (1 May), pushing the visitors around a various occasions to unsettle them.
The tactics were largely allowed to play out by Kevin Friend, in stark contrast to the treatment Frank Lampard’s side have been given by officials during recent controversial encounters, and Sky Sports pundit Campbell believes it’s not before time.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News he said: “Everton were the aggressive side, let’s be honest, Everton were the aggressor.
“And do you know what? Getting some home-team decisions – it’s about time Everton got some. Because they’ve been on the end of some horrendous refereeing decisions.
“But I don’t think there was anything untoward. I don’t think there was anything untoward at all.
“Everton had to be aggressive because Everton had to go and win the game.
“You’re five points behind Leeds and Burnley, you get cut off there you’re in big trouble so this was a must-win game for Everton.
“So they had to go for it, had to make contact with Chelsea, and do you know what? I expected more from Chelsea if I’m honest with you.
“I didn’t think they played particularly well. They had a spell in the second half, but I don’t think they played particularly well for most of the game to be honest.”
Stuart Attwell didn’t give the Toffees the benefit of the doubt with anything in the Merseyside derby in the previous game, and the club have received an apology from Mike Riley for previous failings.
So on a crucial day where Friend chose to let the home side assert their dominance perhaps there was a tiny degree of luck balancing out.
Yerry Mina is often seen as the team’s expert in the dark arts so when he drew a push from Kai Havertz that saw the German yellow carded where various Toffees hadn’t been, fans may have suspected it was finally going to be their day.
In other Everton news, big news from a relegation rival shows similar pressure to avoid disaster as the Toffees are under.
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