Thierno Barry dismissed suggestions that he handled the ball for his second goal against Coventry City as the in-form Frenchman inspired Everton to another victory.
The Blues won for the third time in eight days, with Barry following up strikes against Newcastle United in both the Carabao Cup and Premier League with a brace as they came from behind to beat Frank Lampard's Sky Blues.
Match Recap
Yann Gboho gave Coventry the lead in the opening stages of the second half after they had been on top for much of the first 45 minutes, but Barry's quickfire brace had the Blues in front just after the hour mark.
The forward then turned provider when he teed up Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for Everton's third, with their 3-1 victory taking them up to fifth place in the Premier League table.
VAR Controversy
But it was the manner of Barry's second goal which caused controversy, as he appeared to touch the ball with his hand before he bundled it over the line.
When asked about the incident by Sky Sports after the match, Barry laughed it off and said: "Goal is goal! So I'm happy. I have two goals today so I'm happy."
The Premier League later released a social media statement about the incident, confirming what had been said by the Video Assistant Referee at the time.
An X post from the Premier League's Match Centre account read: 'The referee’s call of goal to Everton was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Barry did not commit a handball offence.'
VAR: “Okay, that’s his side that's definitely not hand. Confirming the on-field decision of goal, check complete”.
Lampard's Reaction
Lampard hit out at the incident after the match, with the former Everton boss also unhappy with an incident in the first half when James Tarkowski escaped punishment for an apparent hair pull on Caleb Yirenkyi in the box.
"A lot of good stuff in the way we played which makes it really difficult to lose the game. Big decisions affected the game, clearly," Lampard told BBC Sport.
"The VAR ones, VAR looked at them. The [James Tarkowski] hair pull on Caleb [Yirenkyi], Taiwo [Awoniyi] I think he gets contact on the edge of the box which is a penalty. Then the second goal for them comes off the player's hand. If you're going to check the angles, there is an angle where it flicks in off his hand. VAR looked at it and decided not. The last touch to score is off the hand, in my opinion."
I've seen a conclusive angle so I can disagree. I understand they are going to back themselves that's fine and it's hard to say it's not a hair pull. It's an in-between kind of hair pull, that's a funny area to be in so I don't get that one either."
