The reaction from the 4,000 Evertonians upon seeing the replay of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s straight red on Selhurst Park’s big screen said it all. Harsh in the extreme, as Sean Dyche admitted last night that VAR is testing his patience.
Calvert-Lewin was dismissed for the first time in his career via a 79th-minute visit to the monitor. Referee Chris Kavanagh had not awarded a free-kick in real time against the 26-year-old striker. There were no complaints from Crystal Palace’s players. Nor the crowd.
Replays showed how Calvert-Lewin glanced the shin of Nathaniel Clyne but in super slow-mo, it was made to look much worse than it was. That was enough to convince Kavanagh, however, as he reached for red.
There was anger from the away end. Laughter from some home supporters. Bemusement on the benches, with Dyche saying they may appeal his three-match ban. They should.
Everton had looked the likelier to win this FA Cup third-round curtain raiser before that red. Instead, we will go to a replay which neither they nor Palace wanted adding to their schedules.
Crystal Palace and Everton played out a goalless draw at Selhurst Park in the third round of the FA Cup
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sent off for this tackle on Nathaniel Clyne in the second half
Referee Chris Kavanagh was recommended by VAR to take a second look at the tackle before awarding the Everton forward a red card
‘It’s in a peculiar place,’ Dyche said of VAR. ‘You slow anything down of that nature, it will look worse. Live, it doesn’t look that bad.
‘For me, Beto clearly gets pulled to the floor with two arms around his waist (by Joachim Andersen). Where’s the parity? We are all aware it needs tidying up. I remain a fan, but it is beginning to test my patience.’
Dyche also complained that referees are not making decisions for themselves when visiting their VAR screens: ‘Why do they even bother? We know what’s going to happen.’
Roy Hodgson added: ‘It was not a vicious foul by any means.’ On failing to grab a late goal against Everton’s 10 men, he said: ‘Unfortunately we didn’t have that magic.’
Palace supporters at least got a glimpse of Matheus Franca, the 19-year-old Brazilian making his first start here.
When a summer signing arrives with a Ballon d’Or nominee clause included in his contract, expectations are high. Whether Flamengo will ever see that £4.3million bonus, on top of the £17m that they were paid by Palace, is another matter.
Credit must go to the Everton supporters who embarked on a nine-hour round trip for an 8pm kick-off on a Thursday in January. Not least because the torrential rain in South London made you tempted to build an ark.
The miserable conditions made it challenging for the goalkeepers, but Dean Henderson did well to tip over Arnaut Danjuma’s attempt.
When Franca’s surging forward run was stopped by James Tarkowski doing his best impression of a bulldozer, Eberechi Eze stood over the 20-yard free-kick, only to send it into the Holmesdale Road Stand.
Eze was lively in the absence of Michael Olise, who was nursing a hamstring issue, but Palace lacked that end product as he set up a shot from Jefferson Lerma which flew wide.
Roy Hodgson’s side will now face off against Everton in an FA Cup replay later this season
Eberechi Eze had a chance late on to steal victory for Crystal Palace, firing just wide of the post
Jean-Philippe Mateta was a threat throughout and nearly went through on goal but for an intervention from Coleman
In the second half, Dwight McNeil was dispossessed in midfield as Palace broke forward at speed. The move ended with Eze stinging the palms of Henderson, who then needed to catch Lerma’s header from the subsequent corner.
Calvert-Lewin touched the ball only nine times in the first half as Danjuma had been Everton’s greatest threat. Then came a chance for the England striker after a mistake by Clyne.
Calvert-Lewin sprinted in behind Palace’s back line. With his hair flopping wildly due to his band having shaken loose in the process of picking up possession, it was a tame attempt at a finish as Henderson made a standard save.
Everton were on top in this FA Cup tie but Amadou Onana’s header sailed over and Jack Harrison’s shot flew wide. Calvert-Lewin then fired a low drive directly at Henderson.
There was confusion inside Selhurst Park when an announcement was made, telling the supporters a VAR check was in progress for a potential dismissal. It turned out to be against Calvert-Lewin for catching Clyne.
There was more woe for Everton after star player Dwight McNeil was brought off on a stretcher in the second half
Arnaut Danjuma had several chances in the first half but couldn’t give the Toffees the lead
It means Sean Dyche’s side are now without a win in their last five matches across all competitions
Kavanagh was sent to his monitor by VAR Michael Salisbury and there, he came to a conclusion in super slow-mo – red card.
Cue the angry reaction from Everton’s army of supporters as they chanted on repeat: ‘You’re not fit to referee.’
Their team ended the game with 10 men, while McNeil worryingly needed carrying away on a stretcher amid nine minutes of stoppage time after a nasty fall off the field, but Everton remain in the FA Cup with a replay to follow.
