‘Let’s have it right’ – Sean Dyche shares theory on latest Everton VAR controversy
Sean Dyche said he was “surprised” that Demarai Gray had a goal disallowed for a handball against Brentford.
The winger bundled the ball into the net from close range just before the break but VAR intervened and the attempt was ruled out. It resulted in a crucial second goal being scored in a game in which Everton were in dire need of three points.
In the end, despite a tense second half, the Blues clung to a significant victory in the Premier League relegation battle. But things got tougher when just saving Dwight McNeil’s first-minute strike.
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When asked about the decision, Dyche, who was amused that he hadn’t awarded Everton a penalty in last week’s draw at Nottingham Forest, said: “I’m just surprised because of the close distance. I understand the idea that the hands aren’t in the right position when they’re dealt, but to me it looks like he just flinches. I think that’s another thing – he didn’t put his hand towards the ball. I thought it came from his pick to be honest.
“You like it when they go for you. If it goes against you you’d be disappointed, if it goes for you you’d be happy. I’m a fan of VAR. Some of these decisions are difficult. But it comes so quickly towards him I don’t know what else to do and to me it looks like he just flinches instead of going with his hand to the ball and putting it in the goal.
While Dyche believed Everton’s task should have been made easier by that second goal, he failed to attempt to address the possible implications of the decision. Instead, he highlighted the chances Everton missed in a dominant first half as the main focus of his concern.
He said, “Let’s do it right. We had other opportunities for which we must take responsibility. I told the players they should be free to miss, I told them that and they did. But they also need to have that moment of clarity to score and I think that’s where our side of the game needs to improve.
“Once you have that freedom to miss and go in the right areas, which is what we are, we get bodies in the right areas, that improves, but you have to have that clarity to score and I think we had two or three chances in the first half to really secure the game.”
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