Coventry City battled bravely at the Hill Dickinson Stadium but found themselves on the wrong side of three VAR calls
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| Coventry City manager Frank Lampard shakes hands with Everton manager David Moyes(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images) |
David Moyes has demanded a change to the rules around pulling hair amid controversy during Everton’s 3-1 win over Coventry City.
Sky Blues boss felt his side should have had a penalty after James Tarkowski made contact with Caleb Yirenkyi’s hair towards the end of the first half at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The incident was viewed by VAR and ruled against Lampard’s interpretation on the basis it did not appear deliberate.
Nonetheless Lampard argued distinguishing between what is and isn’t ‘enough of a pull’ is a ‘hard area to be in’, with Yirenkyi clear that he had been affected by contact with the defender.
Moyes, who saw Michael Keane sent off last season for a hair-pulling incident with Wolves’ Tolu Arokodare, noted that the threshold had been relaxed – and said it should be removed altogether.
"The hair pull rule has changed so it would be a booking if it was but I still think it's ridiculous that rule is in the game. I can't understand why they don't fix this completely because I don't see it as a good rule at all."
That wasn’t the only call to go against City, Lampard felt Taiwo Awoniyi should have been awarded a penalty after tangling with Vitali Mykolenko and Thierno Barry’s second goal – which gave the hosts a lead they would never lose – had been handball.
Moyes disagreed on that too: “I have seen the goal I didn’t think it hit his hand, I have certainly not seen the hair pull that’s for sure.”
Of the three flashpoints the Premier League Match Centre only commented on one and supported Moyes’ assessment, releasing a statement on social media which read: “The referee’s call of goal to Everton was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Barry did not commit a handball offence. VAR: “Okay, that’s his side that's definitely not hand. Confirming the on-field decision of goal, check complete”.
Where the Scot did agree with Lampard is in the visitors’ performance for the first hour, when they harried the home side and went ahead through Yann Gboho.
“I have to say Coventry made it really difficult for us, you could see why they have picked up some really good results themselves. They won at Forest and beat Sunderland the other week.
“They had a couple of decisions which might have gone in their favour and against us, so it was good. In the end we got the goals which mattered and when you win in the Premier League you take it because it is so hard to get the wins.
“We gave away a really poor goal, nobody really put their foot in or was strong enough in the box and we should have defended it better – and we normally do if I am being fair – I thought the reaction from there was really good.
“There was a few not at their best tonight but came up with bits when needed, it was important that Thierno Barry got another couple of goals which was huge for us.”
- Brian Dick
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