Gary Lineker and Micah Richards disagree over key incident in Everton’s draw vs Brighton

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Everton claimed a hard-fought point on the road yesterday afternoon, but were desperately close to snatching all three.

However, as is the way with the Toffees at the moment, devastation struck to snatch away any positivity that this fanbase might have enjoyed. It truly is a tough time to support this club at the moment.

What made that late goal even tougher to take, scored in the 95th minute of a bizarre nine minutes of added time, was the fact that Brighton and Hove Albion only had ten men too.

And yet, they continued to dominate following Billy Gilmour’s dismissal, frustrating goalscorer Jarrad Branthwaite.

However, despite the Scotsman’s hefty challenge on Amadou Onana meriting his sending-off, Micah Richards and Gary Lineker came to blows on Match of the Day last night.

What Micah Richards and Gary Lineker said about Everton

Unsurprisingly, Everton’s uninspiring 1-1 draw on the road was relegated to last-place viewing on the BBC’s quintessential football show.

It is a slot that Sean Dyche’s side has likely become used to inhabiting, with few of their games ever really capturing the attention with a flurry of goals and excitement.

However, whilst the score remained reserved, this game did have plenty of interesting flashpoints. A last-gasp equaliser, a stunner from a centre-back, a keen tactical battle between two polar opposite styles and a contentious red card.

The latter was a keen topic of discussion, which Richards first noting: ‘I actually think he takes a bad touch, similar to Maguire we showed earlier, I think it’s a red card because of the height of it.’

Lineker, however, would play devil’s advocate: ‘He’s just kicked the ball and followed through a fraction.’

The former Manchester City defender was not so forgiving though: ‘No but he could break his leg! I think it’s a red card. It’s dangerous.’

Running out of time on the show, Everton’s striker during the 1985/86 season ended their debate: ‘I know they give those nowadays but I don’t like this rule. He’s just kicked the ball. Football is dangerous.’

Should Billy Gilmour have been sent off vs Everton?

It is understandable why Gilmour’s red has drawn such debate.

After all, the former Chelsea man does get the ball first, but once again it is that follow-through which dooms him to an inevitable dismissal.

The manner in which the sport has been twisted now impedes any sort of contact, but realistically such a refereeing decision is unlikely to stamp out those sorts of challenges.

Seldom are they intentional, and thus common sense does not really prevail.

It is understandable what they are trying to do with these red cards, but ultimately they will do little to alter Premier League players’ actions in the future. The decision to make such a tackle is too reactionary, and this exact challenge makes for a hugely subjective call from the referee.

By the letter of the modern-day law, it is a red card, but Lineker makes a very fair point about how these ever-changing statutes are highly questionable at the best of times.