By George Overhill

15th Oct, 2022 | 6:15pm

Sky Sports pundit reacts as Paul Tierney cracks down on Jordan Pickford in Everton v Tottenham

Jordan Pickford couldn’t believe that referee Paul Tierney had cracked down on perceived time-wasting by the Everton keeper after just 13 minutes, according to Don Goodman.

The Toffees star took one goal kick as his side tried to weather an early Tottenham storm before the referee brought Seamus Coleman and the England number one together to speak to them, while a bemused Conor Coady argued his teammate’s case.

Opposing fans and players have claimed that Pickford wastes too much time on restarts, while Roy Keane branded it “disgraceful” live on Sky Sports on 2 May, a day after the 1-0 win over Chelsea last season, but the 28-year-old was amazed that he was being singled out so early in the game in north London.

Speaking live on the Sky Sports match commentary on Saturday evening (15 October, 5.43pm) Goodman said: “Already, 13 minutes in, that I can assure you is, get the captain over to tell Jordan Pickford he can’t take as much time over his goal kicks.

“He can’t believe it, 13 minutes in. But referees and officials they’re onto that this season, and rightly so.”

Harsh

Pickford didn’t even seem to have taken a particularly long time on the restart before he got a talking to, but Tierney clearly felt he needed to prevent anything starting up.

The Three Lions’ number one is a big enough character that he will take the regular criticism he gets from all quarters and brush it off.

Rivals and pundits don’t like him because he draws a lot of attention to himself, particularly when he’s doing well, and in a very tough away trip he showed he was up for it in the first half by coming out smartly to smother Harry Kane a couple of times.

Frank Lampard wants a result, and in the face of the England captain, his former Toffees star Richarlison, and the dangerous Son Heung-min, he will have no issue with his goalkeeper doing what is necessary later on.

The 5-0 defeat here on 7 March last season was a low point in a miserable season, but the Everton boss returns with a very different team who are determined to be more competitive.

Even Keane acknowledged “I totally get it” when he was criticising it last season, so as much as players and pundits complain about it, they will largely be right behind it when their own team needs to implement the same tactics.