Everton fans were largely content with earning a point last night, but there was still justified frustration over one second-half flashpoint.
After they had finally won the ball high up the pitch, Dwight McNeil fired a smart ball into Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose scuffed shot could only be parried by Nick Pope.
Chasing after the rebound, it was Everton’s English marksman who seemed set to win the race, before Dan Burn bundled him over, throwing his body in the way.
Inexplicably, no penalty was given, sparking conspiracy theories for why Craig Pawson continues to wrong the Toffees.
Everton fans fume with Craig Pawson vs Newcastle United
The comments in question came from the universally liked Neil Warnock, who pulled no punches in his assessment of Pawson just last year.
He told talkSPORT, after Dominic Calvert-Lewin was sent off in their FA Cup match vs Crystal Palace on the recommendation of VAR operator Pawson: ‘I’ve just found out this morning it was Craig Pawson in the room. Well, I mean, Craig Pawson has got something with Everton.’
Well, these comments have resurfaced, with fans far from happy. One fan claimed: ‘Again, he has something against Everton. Club need to address this.’
Another then wrote: ‘Because Craig Pawson is the worst Referee there has ever been & he quite clearly has an agenda against Everton as Neil Warnock pointed out. The clown should not be officiating Sunday League games never mind @premierleague games.’
The Premier League have to sort VAR out immediately
It’s clear now that the Premier League have to sort out VAR more than ever, but not only because of the poor decisions consistently made.
The biggest issue is that those inside the ground know nothing about what’s going on up in Stockley Park.
When Abdoulaye Doucoure headed home in the first half, there were celebrations as the flag stayed down, but there were also many left apprehensive, unsure about whether there was an element of doubt given how free he was.
Once that was disallowed, things went from bad to worse.
James Tarkowski clearly fouled Sandro Tonali, but in the middle of a messy, busy box, those inside Goodison Park couldn’t possibly have known that.
Yet, the referee swanned up to the screen and gave the penalty, with the subsequent explanation a weak one that left fans furious with Pawson.
Not only are decisions routinely wrong, as Burn’s foul on Calvert-Lewin in the second half proved, but it is also leaving fans in the dark.
It’s not fair, and is sucking the spirit out of the game for the match-going fan.
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