Sky Sports pundit accuses Burnley star after incident v Everton
Andy Hinchcliffe was having none of it as Burnley had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Anthony Taylor in the 2-0 victory for Everton on Saturday 16 December.
Zeki Amdouni was incensed at the decision not to award a penalty as he was floored by James Tarkowski on the hour mark in the win for the Toffees at Turf Moor.
The Sky Sports pundit actually accused the attacker of trying to “con” the officials, as he was simply bullied off the ball by the man mountain.
“Tarkowski runs a really good defensive line,” he said live on Sky Sports on Saturday (16 December, 6:51pm). “Amdouni knows he’s never getting to the ball so he goes to ground. He’s not fouled.
“I think he runs into Tarkowski, trying to con the referee.”
Heart in the mouth moment
After such a dominant first-half display by Everton, it would have been a real kick in the teeth if Tarkowski had given away a penalty and given Burnley an easy way back into the game.
But Taylor got the call right, allowing play to continue as Amdouni threw a tantrum on the floor inside the Toffees penalty area.
It would not be unusual for Dyche’s men to concede a penalty, though. Behind Brighton and Wolves tied on five, Everton have conceded the third-most penalties in the Premier League this season with four.
Burnley have been awarded just one so far, but Jay Rodriguez dispatched it in style against West Ham last month.
Conceding a penalty would be a tough way for all of Everton’s hard work to be undone, and with Burnley pushing for a comeback through most of the second half, it could have altered the result entirely.
The right call was made straight away, however, without the need for VAR intervention.
In other Everton news, Michael Keane earns a rare start in our predicted starting XI to face Burnley.