Chris Sutton slams ‘so reckless’ Ashley Young as ‘unlucky’ Everton beaten by Manchester United at Goodison Park
Everton were “unlucky” in their 3-0 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday although Ashley Young should have been sent off, according to Chris Sutton.
The BBC Sport pundit said on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast on 27 November that the Toffees defender is “so reckless” after he gave away a penalty for a trip on Anthony Martial while on a booking, which allowed the visitors to take a two-goal lead.
Sutton admitted that squad depth and taking chances are both “issues” for Sean Dyche but still believes the club are good enough to avoid relegation danger this season despite their 10-point deduction.
Sutton said (11m 45s): “I actually thought they were unlucky in the game against Manchester United. They had opportunities. Sean Dyche has quite rightly looked back to earlier home games this season which they’ve lost, against Wolves and Fulham where they had plenty of chances and didn’t take them, and that’s an issue.
“But in terms of the performance I thought it was alright. The penalty decision, I thought it was a penalty in truth. Ashley Young is so reckless isn’t he? He should have got sent off.
“It’s going to be a struggle for them but I think they are good enough to get out.”
Immature
It would be an exaggeration to suggest that Everton were running rings around Erik ten Hag’s side for 90 minutes but it isn’t a stretch to argue that they were probably the better side on the balance of play.
It isn’t the first time this year that the Toffees have been beaten at home in a game where they arguably should have won though, and that is going to need to change.
Dyche could hardly have come up with a game plan to stop Alejandro Garnacho smashing an overhead kick into the top corner in the third minute, even if Vitalii Mykolenko could have put up more resistance in the build-up down the left.
But with the fans making huge noise in the stands the players rallied from the early set back and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucouré probably all have scored by half time.
It is certainly becoming an issue however, and one that Dyche can do something about, for Young to keep making rash challenges in the manner of a player 20 years young than him.
The 38-year-old stepped up and provided a crucial veteran presence last season for Aston Villa and in constrained financial circumstances there seemed to be reasonable logic in signing him for free in the summer.
Yet he hasn’t been anything of the calming influence that Dyche would have hoped for, and after his red card at Anfield and his lucky escape from one against United Nathan Patterson must be wondering what he has to do to get a chance.
But if Dyche is intent on having an experienced figure at the position then Seamus Coleman can’t get back to full fitness fast enough.
In other Everton news, Richard Keys slammed the Toffees on the night as Andy Gray claimed the manager was “worried”.