Gabby Agbonlahor accuses Everton player of serious disrespect amid scenes vs Wolves
Nine-man Everton drew with bottom side Wolves at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Wednesday in a match packed with controversy.
Michael Keane opened the scoring in the 17th minute of Everton’s 1-1 draw against Wolves with an emphatic finish following Tim Iroegbunam’s shot across goal, but Mateus Mane levelled the score with a composed strike past Jordan Pickford.
Keane was then sent off for Everton for pulling Tolu Arokodare’s hair before Jack Grealish was shown a second yellow card for sarcastically mocking referee Thomas Kirk, leaving Everton with nine men on the pitch during second-half stoppage time.
Gabby Agbonlahor was critical of the official’s performance, but believed that the decision to send off Keane was spot on.
Gabby Agbonlahor agrees with the decision to send off Michael Keane
The incident was not spotted at first, but Kirk was advised by VAR to go to the screen in the 81st minute and look at the incident of Keane pulling Arokodare’s hair when both players went up for a header, and the centre-back was dismissed shortly afterwards.
Kirk was officiating just the second Premier League match of his career, and was criticised by Everton fans for some of the decisions he made.
Speaking on talkSPORT on 8 January, both Alan Brazil and Agbonlahor agreed with the call to show Keane a red card.
Brazil said: “The red card for the hair pull, it’s as clear as day.”
| Everton | Stat | Wolves |
| 45% | Possession | 55% |
| 13 | Shots | 12 |
| 0.89 | Expected goals | 0.68 |
| 55% | Ground duels won | 45% |
| 82% | Pass accuracy | 85% |
Agbonlahor added: “If you ask a player with hair, it’s disrespectful to have your hair pulled.”
The Toffees have not only dropped more points at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but they are now without Keane and Grealish for Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Sunderland.
Keane will serve a three-match ban, meaning he’ll also miss the league games against Aston Villa and Leeds United.
While this type of offence isn’t seen often, David Moyes can’t have too many complaints over the punishment issued to the 32-year-old.
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What did Gabby Agbonlahor say about Jack Grealish’s red card?
However, Agbonlahor believes Everton have every right to be furious about Grealish’s dismissal.
He said: “I think the referee was inexperienced, Grealish is not coming into the referee’s face.
“The whole stadium was cheering, and I just think it was an easy way of sending him off and making a statement for yourself.”
Everton’s talisman registered two assists in the loss to Brentford on Sunday, but he was kept quiet by Wolves and became increasingly frustrated throughout the match.
Although he shouldn’t have sarcastically clapped, players across the league aren’t penalised for that offence every week.
Unfortunately for Grealish and Everton, Kirk decided to make an example out of them.