Everton continued their poor run of results on Tuesday night with a 0-0 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage with VAR a major talking point.
Sean Dyche will be concerned with his side continuing to slip down the league table with a place in the bottom three now theirs, thanks to Luton’s 4-0 win over Brighton.
This is hardly a surprising position given it’s just two wins in the last 10 games across all competitions for the Toffees and there will be a growing concern over relegation becoming a real prospect should Luton Town build on their big win.
But in the game last night, Everton will feel they should’ve had a penalty and the chance to pick up all three points. Antonee Robinson handled the ball which VAR didn’t intervene in because his arm was ‘by his side’ despite it clearly being outstretched.
Now, Dyche has dropped his view on the penalty situation.
Sean Dyche on Everton penalty claim
Speaking post-game, with his quotes being relayed by the Liverpool Echo, Dyche was at a loss with the latest VAR decision.
“We can’t get a penalty, you know that, we haven’t had a penalty,” Dyche explained.
“But on the other hand, I think we are a bit lost with the VAR thing, even though I am a fan of it generally, and we are certainly a bit lost with handball. Could you get it? You might do. If it is given against you, you are not happy. If it is for you, you take one. But for a team that hasn’t had a penalty you take what you can.
“I think we are all a bit – certainly the managers with handball – a bit lost with it. Some try and call it fair. Have you got a chance of getting it? You should have. But did we get it? No. But we can’t get a penalty so it wasn’t a major surprise for a team that hasn’t had a penalty.”
Everton are yet to receive a penalty this season and that explains Dyche’s lack of surprise at the fact last night was no different.
Everton can’t rely on VAR, Dyche needs to do more
Despite the decision being the wrong one and Everton being unfortunate not to have a penalty, this isn’t something Dyche can rely on as an excuse.
The matter is that Everton struggled again and a penalty wouldn’t have changed the performance. Improvements are needed now before the Toffees slip further down the league table.
With time running out to get it right, Dyche needs to find the formula which sparked a four-game winning run in December.
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