Former referee Mike Dean has sided with Everton boss David Moyes after the Toffees manager bemoaned some of the refereeing decisions during the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea. Moyes voiced his frustration at the decision to book Harrison Armstrong for his challenge on Josh Acheampong, and suggested Morgan Rogers could have been shown a second yellow card for a crunching collision with James Garner.
Moyes questions referee decisions
The Toffees, who had gone into the fixture unbeaten in their opening eight matches of the season, suffered their first loss of the campaign as Pedro Neto struck twice, netting in the 46th and 90th minutes. The match was also marred by visiting goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez being stretchered off with concussion following a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite.
Everton youngster Armstrong received the first of seven bookings in a fiery encounter, though many home fans felt the challenge was fair, with Moyes openly questioning the referee's call on his midfielder.
He said: "If our football in this country is not going to allow them then I don't know. We've got referees who we want to be the best in Europe, or think they're the best, because they let things go.
"I thought it looked a half-decent tackle. Maybe somebody might tell me I'm wrong or tell me differently, but I wasn't sure that it was the right decision.
"I was disappointed with the decision at the time. I had a wee look at the Morgan Rogers tackle on Jimmy [Garner], which, maybe some might have said something different, and I think that might have made a second yellow, it wasn't the case."
Dean: "I called red straight away"
Former top-flight official Dean, who was on punditry duty for Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, said: "I think it's a minimum yellow. I called red straight away.
"When you see the angle we've seen now, he doesn't get the ball, Rogers. He might've just flicked it, but he catches him with his stud just on the inside of Garner's knee.
"I think it's a straight red me, I really do. I just think it's not a good tackle at all."
