Sean Dyche believes Everton should have been awarded a penalty during Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle United following a second-half coming together between Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dan Burn.
Calvert-Lewin fell in the penalty area as he attempted to collect a rebound from close range following a Nick Pope save in the 67th minute. He would have had the opportunity to strike the ball into an empty net but instead connected with the back of Burn’s leg and fell to the ground.
The Newcastle defender said at full time he believed the correct decision had been made as the Everton forward had made contact with him, but was concerned a penalty could have been awarded. Dyche believed a foul would have been given had the incident taken place elsewhere on the pitch.
“Everyone knows our record of not getting penalties, we don’t get one again and you are left frustrated with that,” Dyche told Sky Sports.
“He’s trying to finish it, the ball’s there to be finished and he’s trying to finish it. The player (Burn) I don’t think can get the ball and interrupts the (strike).
(Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
“Let’s put it this way, an easy way to put it for everyone who wants to listen: if that’s in the middle of the pitch, do you think that’s given as a foul? Because I think everyone would say absolutely, 100 per cent.
“But we can’t get penalties, we know that. We hope we do moving forwards. They didn’t have a look at it (on the pitch) which was frustrating.”
Referee Craig Pawson did not award a penalty and video assistant referee (VAR) Chris Kavanagh did not recommend the decision be reviewed on-field after it was deemed Calvert-Lewin had kicked Burn’s leg.
A statement from the Premier League match centre’s social media account read: “The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge between Calvert-Lewin and Burn is checked and confirmed by VAR — deeming that Calvert-Lewin kicked the back of Burn’s leg.”
Asked if he was worried after the incident, Burn replied: “Yeah a little bit. I think it was one of them if the ref gives it that probably doesn’t get overturned. I know that’s been a big thing, the referee’s call (being final) this year. I put my foot in front and I thought Dominic had kicked me.
“But anytime there’s contact in the box as a defender you’re worried. I haven’t seen it back to be able to comment properly but I’m sure the pundits will be deciding if it was.”
Kavanagh had been sent to the pitch-side monitor in the first half and awarded Everton a penalty for a James Tarkowski foul on Sandro Tonali. Anthony Gordon’s subsequent spot kick was saved by Jordan Pickford as Saturday’s fixture finished goalless.
GO DEEPER
Everton 0 Newcastle 0: Gordon misses penalty in scrappy game – but clean sheet at last
(Top photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
