Everton’s relationship with the officials has been somewhat fractured this campaign, made even worse by their inability to award the Toffees a penalty.
Until last month’s Goodison Park clash with West Ham United, they were the only side in the division to have not been given one all season.
A truly startling statistic given how many blatant penalty shouts they had seen dismissed.
Well, at last luck shone on them last night, and perhaps this might mark a change in fortunes as Sean Dyche’s men enter the run-in.
Sean Dyche once again left baffled by VAR
Speaking to TNT Sports immediately after the game, Laura Woods sought to quiz him on the flashpoint of the match: the penalty incident.
And whilst he was unsurprisingly pleased to have been on the right side of a decision at last, the former Burnley boss was still left aggrieved with the manner in which the officials came to that conclusion.
For him, it was obvious. It did not need three minutes of checking, leaving those inside the stadium scratching their heads after Ashley Young had been wrestled to the ground.
It is one of the outstanding criticisms of VAR, but Dyche’s issues run much deeper than just last night.
He noted, after the on-field referee neglected to award the spot kick: ‘The penalty… I don’t know what you have to do now to get a penalty because we can’t get them. We had one Saturday, how it’s not given we don’t know, and then tonight… I mean I don’t even know why they have to look at it 300 times. It’s crazy.
‘Well, it’s bizarre because we can’t get a penalty. And then you’re looking at that, and the lads have seen it and we’re not getting involved because you’re not allowed to, but that has to be given. I don’t know why it’s taken so long to give it.’
Everton handed a bit of luck with penalty vs Newcastle United
Although there was little debate about the actual penalty, the fortune still comes in a few different forms.
After all, Everton were fortunate that Dummett made such a brainless decision at such a crucial juncture in the game, handing the Toffees the golden chance they had been waiting for.
Without that penalty, it’s unlikely that they would have found the net all game really despite some flashes of brilliance.
Also, fortune emerged in the fact that VAR actually did its job for a change.
Given the referee had completely missed the incident, waving away Young’s vociferous protests, it at least sparked some thought in the mind of the officials.
Clearly, those in Stockley Park were inspired, and somehow Everton were awarded the penalty they deserved.
Even in the finish, Martin Dubravka’s strong hand was not enough to keep out Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s admittedly unconvincing finish.
However, they needed that bit of luck. The only hope is that there is more to come before the season is up.
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