Everton fans were overjoyed after the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, which has propelled them to sixth in the Premier League table as it stands.
Everton managed to win their fourth game in five Premier League attempts after goals from Thierno Barry and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall followed an early Nikola Milenkovic own goal.
However, there was an incident a few minutes in when James Tarkowski barged into Nottingham Forest winger Dan Ndoye, with the attacker going down after a robust shove.
It’s been enough to prompt Nottingham Forest to reportedly ask questions about the incident to PGMOL, with former boss Sean Dyche apoplectic at the full-time whistle, and fans appear to be divided over the decision.
Everton fans can’t decide on James Tarkowski’s behaviour against Nottingham Forest
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) after James Tarkowski’s clash off the ball with Dan Ndoye, most Toffees fans were generally supportive of the defender for giving it back to the Swiss star.
One fan started off by posting: “It’s never a red card in a million years under any circumstances under any referee or review. Game is so soft now it’s beyond a joke may aswell make it a no contact sport”, whilst another rubbed the win in Forest fans’ faces, adding: “The referee did all he could to help them today and they still got flattened!”
More took to social media to ask questions over agendas, with Ndoye having gone at Tarkowski in the moments leading up to the incident.
Relive THAT stunning performance all over again. How far can David Moyes take Everton this season?✈️
One fan wrote: “Some context to this. Ndoye was doing it to Tarkowski too but it doesn’t fit Sky’s agenda”, and another published: “It’s also a bit hypocritical. Conveniently ignoring the fact the Forest player hit Tarkowski with a straight arm before he reacted. No excuse I know but at least it’s perspective.”
One fan pointed out that it was odd for Dyche to claim against Tarkowski given that he’d done the same under him at both Burnley and Everton, claiming: “Funny because Tarkowski did all that stuff at Burnley under Dyche, and I don’t recall Dyche ever having a problem with it then.”
However, some Everton fans didn’t see the funny side, believing Tarkowski’s antics to be crossing the line and ‘stupid’. One fan went against the grain and said: “Tarkowski does need to rein it in with some of his antics. That could easily have been interpreted as a red and there are certain refs who wouldn’t hesitate to show one”, whilst another posted: “Pretty stupid from Tarkowski though mate. It actually took momentum out of our game and a risk not worth taking.”
Everton will not care one bit about James Tarkowski being an aggressive defender
Whilst the incident between Tarkowski and Ndoye will be talked about in the days to come, it does not matter in terms of the result – and David Moyes will be over the moon with the defender’s performances.
Everton have now kept four clean sheets in their last five Premier League games in what is shaping up to be a solid Premier League campaign, winning those in which they have scored – and it marks their sixth of the season after some uncharacteristically poor defensive outings in the weeks prior to their strong run of form.
Does Dyche deserve to be applauded?
James Tarkowski is crucial to the club. He’s only missed five Premier League matches in three-and-a-half seasons, winning the second-most amount of aerial duels in the league behind Virgil van Dijk this season.
Any aggressiveness is needed. The incident on Saturday was probably overstepping the mark, but Tarkowski has been superb and if that is part of his game, it’s essential to Everton’s hopes.
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