Dermot Gallagher speaks out on ‘interesting’ Everton v Aston Villa controversy
Dermot Gallagher believes Everton would have had a penalty overturned even if had been awarded to them against Aston Villa for a shove on Jesper Lindstrom.
David Moyes’ Premier League return didn’t get off to the best of starts on Wednesday (15 January) with a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, but it wasn’t a match without controversy.
After Ollie Watkins had given Villa the lead, Everton appeared to have a shout for a penalty when Lindstrom was seemingly shoved in the back mid-flight, but nothing was awarded.
Speaking live on Sky Sports News [16 January, 11:19 am], ex-Premier League official Gallagher said of the incident: “It’s interesting.
“If you watch this through, is it a foul? Is he being held? But watch this – if the referee had given a penalty, it would have been disallowed anyway because the goalkeeper is impeded.
“Even if the penalty was given, VAR would have asked [the referee] to look for a foul on the goalkeeper.”
Everton to feel hard done by after Jesper Lindstrom footage
Ultimately, had the penalty been awarded, it could very much have been the difference between a point or none and you’d imagine Moyes is fully aware of that.
It’s a clear push in the back of Lindstrom, with no attempt to play the ball, and while Gallagher believes it would have been overturned, it’s quite remarkable that it wasn’t even spotted.
Everton had a handful of opportunities that they didn’t take in the clash and if Moyes is to be the man to turn the season on its head, players need to start stepping up.
The Toffees have lacked that final touch all season, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin now having failed to score in any of his last 16 encounters and Beto doing little to help with his own lack of contributions.
Attacking reinforcements are an absolute necessity for the Merseysiders this winter and, without it, the prospect of relegation looms.
In other Everton news, Sean Dyche showed his true class with a statement after his sacking.
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