Everton could only draw 1-1 with Wolves at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and the game descended into chaos in the closing stages.
After a nervy start, David Moyes’ side took the lead on 17 minutes through Michael Keane, who turned in brilliantly after a scuffed shot by Tim Iroegbunam.
The goal settled Everton, who finished the half strong. Young Harrison Armstrong made a real impression starting in midfield, and may well have given Moyes something to think about moving forward.
Sum that up for us… 😡
Cannot believe how that second half panned out!
But Wolves hit back through Mateus Mane in the second-half, and then chaos ensued.
Keane was sent off for a hair pull on Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare, and Everton then went down to nine men when Jack Grealish picked up a second booking for sarcastically clapping the referee.
Immediately after the game, Leon Osman, who commentated for Sky Sports, gave his verdict on the Keane sending off.
Leon Osman has sympathy for Michael Keane after red card vs Wolves
It is a hugely disappointing result for Everton, given Wolves’ position in the league.
Yes, they’ve improved recently under Rob Edwards.
But it was always a game Everton should have been winning, and even more so after taking the lead in the game.
The Keane red card made it so that Wolves could take the game to Everton at the end, but former Everton midfielder Osman has questioned the decision.
Who takes the Man of the Match for you? 😬
He said on Sky: “It’s a unique incident. One that I don’t think I’ve seen before. If you see red cards for getting sent off for pulling hair it’s usually something off the ball. Or something malicious.
“This was a challenge. They were both up in the air, there was arms flailing. There was certainly a handful of hair, but it could quite easily have been a handful of jersey. People will think differently about it in the week, but it seemed a strange incident for me.
“This will be debated and talked about for many, many weeks. I do think he has a hold of the hair but is that dangerous play?”
Another poor home result for Everton
People are likely to have different opinions about the red card for Keane, although the letter of the law suggests he was right to be dismissed, even if he didn’t mean to grab Arokodare’s hair.
But what is not up for debate is that this is a bad result for Everton, and far from the response that was needed after the loss to Brentford.
Taking the lead in the game, Everton should have seen it out.
But the level dropped in the second-half and they allowed Wolves back into the contest. And potentially, the Toffees could have even ended up losing following the two red cards.
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