Mail Online

FARKE FURY AT VAR

German raging as Norwich lose again

By Harry Slavin

DANIEL FARKE was left furious by the intervention of VAR to award Everton the penalty that set his Norwich side on the way to their sixth consecutive defeat of the season.

Referee David Coote had initially given a goal kick when midfielder Allan collided with Ozan Kabak’s high foot in the box, but was urged to check his decision on the pitchside monitor.

Andros Townsend converted from the spot and Abdoulaye Doucoure made sure of the three points in the second half as Rafa Benitez picked up his third straight home win — the first Toffees manager to achieve this in the opening three matches of a season in the Premier League era.

But his opposite number was adamant they had been given more than a helping hand.

‘It was definitely the wrong decision,’ the German boss said after the game. ‘Before the season started they said once a player tries to use a situation, with a straight leg, in order to create a penalty, then it is never a penalty. This was such a situation.

‘Allan put the ball out more or less for a goal kick for us and realised it was too far away. He then used the leg of Ozan Kabak to dive over his leg and go over.

‘The referee had the right decision during the game. He had a perfect decision. VAR forced him to re-watch it and of course if you watch a game in slow motion and have the pressure of the whole stadium wanting a penalty, it’s not the easiest situation for the referee. I was disappointed it was overturned.’

It was not the only decision of the afternoon that irked the Canaries boss, who has now lost 16 consecutive matches as a top-flight manager – an unwanted record that only threatens to grow. The sequence includes 10 games in the 2019-20 season.

Farke also questioned why Lucas Digne was not shown a second yellow for a deliberate handball in the second half. ‘We were chasing the game and I think it was definitely a handball and it was a really dangerous cross for us. I think it should be a yellow [then] red card,’ he added.

‘If you’re then chasing the game and have a one-man overload with 20, 25 minutes to go that would definitely have changed the outcome of the game.’

For Benitez and Everton though, it was a welcome return to winning ways. There had been concern that his side’s season had already peaked.

Their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign was obliterated at Villa Park last Saturday, while their Carabao Cup quest ended at QPR after a penalty shootout defeat.

With Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin both still out and James Rodriguez’s move to Qatari side Al-Rayyan confirmed mid-week, there are also concerns over just where the goals are going to come from.

At present, the answer appears to be Townsend, who made no mistake from the penalty spot when eventually given the chance in the 29th minute to set the Toffees on their way to victory ‘It doesn’t matter whether it’s a record or not,’ Benitez said after the game. ‘I like to win.’

Norwich have serious problems with a lack of creativity. Farke’s side have scored only twice since returning to the top flight. For all their industry on Merseyside, they never really looked like adding to that.

The outcome showed the difference between a top-half side and one anchored to the foot of the table.

Despite an abject second-half showing, Everton still created the better opening. They took it, too. Pierre Lees-Melou was caught in possession just inside his own half. Demarai Gray pressed on and laid the ball into the path of Doucoure, who fired low beyond Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul. The ability to find the net hasn’t deserted Benitez’s side quite yet.

EVERTON (4-4-1-1): Pickford 6.5; Godfrey 6, Mina 6.5, Keane 6, Digne 6; Townsend 6.5 (Gordon 76min), Doucoure 7, Allan 6, Iwobi 6 (Dobbin 87); Gray 6.5 (Davies 83); Rondon 6. Booked: Digne, Gray. Subs (not used): Begovic, Kenny, Holgate, Lonergran, Branthwaite, Simms.

NORWICH (3-5-2): Krul 6; Aarons 6, Kabak 5 (Rashica 69, 6), Hanley 6; Gibson 5.5, Williams 5.5 (Giannoulis 86), Lees-Melou 5.5, Normann 6.5 (Tzolis 70, 6), McLean 6; Sargent 5.5, Pukki 5. Booked: Kabak, Lees-Moulou, Williams. Subs (not used): Gunn, Rupp, Gilmour, Dowell, Idah, Omobamidele.

Football

en-gb

2021-09-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://mailonline.pressreader.com/article/284017605236403

dmg media (UK)