Everton, this campaign, have had no luck. On, or off the pitch for that matter.
It is easy, what with the tribalism ingrained in football nowadays, to simply dismiss fanbases as ‘crying’ over what they feel they are owed but never seem to attain.
However, with the Toffees, there feels like a very genuine agenda against them, what with all the decisions that just never seem to fall in their favour.
A vocal call for a penalty waved away by a smug official. Cynical fouls to thwart an Everton attack that so often goes unpunished. As a fan, I am getting tired of watching them. As a writer, I am getting even more tired of writing about them.
How many times this season have we had to lobby against a referee once again, walking away from Goodison Park grumbling about how that was ‘one of the worst officiating performances in recent memory’? Far too often.
Saturday marked no difference.
Another decision goes against Everton
Whilst Michael Oliver was guilty of so many little failures throughout the clash with Tottenham Hotspur, favouring the visitors on every occasion, there remains one outstanding moment which has drawn widespread attention.
And yet, whilst ignored shouts for a penalty are the kind of huge decisions that can change a game, it is the persisting bias throughout the clash, giving every slight touch as a foul to the opposition, that just swings the momentum and allows the other team to build.
It was the story of the game, and despite Spurs committing 14 fouls to Everton’s eight, it was the hosts who ended with three bookings.
Sean Dyche added a fourth as he remonstrated with the fourth official over a flashpoint that could have proved pivotal had Jarrad Branthwaite not bundled in a late equaliser.
Why wasn’t Beto given a penalty vs Spurs?
The 52-year-old’s frustration came when Beto, seeking to latch on to Jack Harrison’s volleyed delivery, made a beeline for the ball.
However, as he began striding forward, Ange Postecoglou’s January signing, Radu Dragusin, bundled the Portuguese forward over.
With a clear handful of his shirt and enough contact to force the 6 foot 4 striker to the ground, Oliver waved protests away instantly.
Well, now debating the decision on Sky Sports, there was a myriad of opinions coming from the panel.
Unsurprisingly, Dermot Gallagher sided with his fellow official: ‘Referee didn’t fancy it. The referee clearly waves it away, so what he feeds back [to VAR] is I don’t think there’s enough contact.
‘The VAR can only intervene if they think he’s made a clear and obvious error. I don’t think it’s a penalty.’
Sue Smith debated the call though, noting: ‘He would surely just go to head the ball if he’s not fouled. There must be a foul. You can see he’s pulling his shirt.’
And whilst Jay Bothroyd did momentarily side with the centre-back, he too came to the following conclusion: ‘It’s cute play from the defender. He’s nudged him and pulled his shirt to put him off, so he wasn’t able to go and jump for it. I think that should have been a penalty.’
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