David Moyes admits Tottenham Hotspur were in the clear regarding close refereeing call vs Everton
Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a thrilling 3‑0 win over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium at the weekend. But the three points did not come without their talking points…
It was a game of set pieces. The ones that count and the ones that didn’t.
The Lilywhites saw Micky van de Ven rising up for two towering headers from dead ball situations. And that first-half brace put the visitors into a strong position to take a historic win at the Merseysiders’ new stadium. But a couple of decisions from the referee and VAR ended up with a quite soaring crowd at Everton. But the Blues manager David Moyes, reflecting after the game about those decisions, showed something that you don’t see very often in games these days: a mark of honesty.
Moyes speaks on controversial calls in Everton vs Tottenham
One of the decisions that caused uproar among the Everton supporters was Jake O’Brien’s disallowed goal. He scored one from a finely taken corner on the front post. But then VAR went on to disallow the goal because the Blues’ wide forward Iliman Ndiaye was in an offside position in a way that didn’t do Vicario a lot of good. And David Moyes, when asked about the disallowed goal, admitted that it was rightly not counted.
Speaking via. Liverpool Echo, he said:
“I think the goal we got chopped off for offside was the correct decision. I think it’s offside.
“At the time and from where I looked at it from the touchline, it looked to me as if everyone was OK, but I’ve just looked at it after I came in after the game, so I can’t argue with that now.”
Then there was also a possible foul cry from the hosts’ supporters on Jordan Pickford in the lead-up to Tottenham’s second goal. And when asked about it, Moyes again insisted that he didn’t think it was a foul and the goal rightly stood for the Lilywhites. He added:
“No, I don’t think there was a foul on that. I don’t think so.”
TTLB Opinion
This honesty from Moyes is refreshing. Given that this sport has become one that is too much dominated by complaints and excuses around the refs these days. And then here is a man who is giving his honest views even when it comes against his side. And that is where he should get a nod, especially from the Lilywhites supporters.
This also shows how the current Tottenham squad has taken a step up under Thomas Frank’s tutelage. The Dane head coach recently spoke about the set-piece importance in the game and how he did so at Brentford and how he is bringing the same blueprint to Hotspur Way. And we have seen exactly that at the weekend.
What do you make of David Moyes’ honesty with the two controversial calls? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.