Everton now have a great advantage in Carabao Cup quarter-final as Marco Silva rages at decision
Everton have been handed a major boost ahead of their Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Fulham at Goodison Park on 19 December after Raul Jimenez was handed a straight red card against Newcastle.
Jimenez has been on flying form for Fulham recently, scoring three goals in his two games leading up to the Premier League game with Newcastle where he was sent off for violent conduct.
Fulham boss Marco Silva was raging at the decision, slamming referee Samuel Barrott in his post-match press conference, with his comments likely to land him in hot water.
“Until the 21st minute [in] all the moments, the referee didn’t give us one foul,” Silva ranted via Liverpool World [16 December], “For Newcastle, it was a free-kick every time.
“In these types of games, the referee has to have the ability to handle the pressure because always with the home crowd. The Premier League should decide [upon] a referee with the experience and ability to handle pressure.
“This is the best example of a referee who doesn’t have the experience to handle the pressure.”
A 3-0 defeat against Newcastle and their star striker being sent off is everything Everton would’ve hoped for for their opponents ahead of a cup quarter-final. With the manager’s comments showing their frustrations, there is arguably no better time to play Fulham.
Given Everton’s form as well, having won four on the bounce without conceding a single goal, every boost they receive could prove to be a huge one as far as their hopes for progressing further into the cup competition are concerned.
An unstable atmosphere at Fulham, combined with the positive one at Goodison Park with the home team flying lately may create a perfect storm for Sean Dyche and his players to seize the opportunity and reach the Carabao Cup semi-final.
With the winner of this quarter-final joined by the winners from clashes between Port Vale and Middlesbrough, Chelsea and Newcastle, and Liverpool and West Ham, the Toffees could be handed an ideal opportunity to challenge for silverware.
In other Everton news, Jamie Redknapp was obsessed with what he saw v Burnley.