Sean Dyche ‘clutching at straws’ as Ben Foster agrees over Everton manager desperation
Ben Foster and Dave Watson have agreed with Craig Pawson’s decision after Dominic Calvert-Lewin wasn’t awarded a penalty for Everton against Newcastle United.
The 27-year-old went down under challenge from Dan Burn inside the area but VAR adjudged the defender to be not at fault.
This didn’t go down well with the Goodison Park faithful but former England coach Watson agreed with the officials while speaking on The Football Fill-In on 8 October.
He said: “I think it can go to VAR or whatever but it was never a penalty and that’s what it is designed for. In all fairness, the referee made a good decision on the day and it’s Burn who gets fouled.
“I thought Dyche was clutching at straws a little bit post-game, he’s desperate. There’s a little bit of cheek and he’s desperate for the referee to give him a penalty.”
This was echoed by Foster who added: “I agree, I think at first glance I was a bit like ‘Ooh, I need to see that slowed down’ but then when you do see it slowed down it’s very obvious.
“Burn has done well actually to get in front of him. I don’t think it was a penalty.”
Ben Foster agrees with Newcastle decision v Everton
It is a decision which has divided football fans and pundits almost down the middle with some agreeing with Pawson and some strongly against it.
Calvert-Lewin is adjudged to have kicked Burn which took him down as opposed to the other way around.
The argument is that if the Magpies’ defender didn’t stick his foot into that space, the Toffees’ striker wouldn’t have been forced down.
It feels like a 50:50 decision which would go for and against you in different games, which is the frustration with VAR in the Premier League.
The only comfort to Dyche will be that his side didn’t suffer a defeat on the back of a potentially poor decision against him.
Anthony Gordon did get the opportunity to take a penalty which was saved by Jordan Pickford in an unforgettable Goodison moment.
James Tarkowski was definitely in the wrong as a spot kick was awarded against the Toffees but home fans would want Burn’s challenge to be punished in the same vein.
In other Everton news, Kieran Maguire has shared a loan update amid the latest update in the Manchester City case.
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