Frank Lampard criticised VAR after Coventry City were denied two penalties and questioned Thierno Barry's decisive goal in a 3-1 defeat at Everton on Friday. The result lifted Everton to fifth in the Premier League table.
Coventry's penalty appeals
Coventry took the lead in the 52nd minute before Everton scored three unanswered goals. However, the newly promoted side felt aggrieved by three separate incidents during the match.
In the first half, Caleb Yirenkyi had his hair pulled by Everton's James Tarowski inside the penalty area. In the second period, Coventry striker Taiwo Awoniyi went down in the box after a tangle with Vitalii Mykolenko.
Barry's goal under scrutiny
The Sky Blues were also unhappy with Barry's second goal, which put Everton 2-1 up, as replays suggested the ball may have struck his hand before passing Carl Rushworth.
Speaking to Match of the Day after the match, Lampard said: "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."
He added: "The VAR ones, VAR looked at them. The hair pull on Caleb. Taiwo, 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."
Lampard added: "We have to keep working, I'm seeing progression in the team. We have to work hard. There is a good spirit with us and we have to keep improving."
Moyes responds
Everton manager David Moyes was asked about the incidents and replied: "I've seen the goal, I didn't think it hit his hand. I've certainly not seen the hair pull, that's for sure. I think a hair pull nowadays only gets you a booking, doesn't it? I need to see if it was a hair pull in the first place because I've not seen that myself and I didn't even know about it but I will get a look at it and see."
Friday's result means Coventry could spend the international break in the relegation zone. Their next game is at home to fellow strugglers Crystal Palace, while Everton travel to Brentford.
