Everton were able to make it a miserable return to Merseyside for Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche.
On the back of their 3-0 victory against Liverpool just weeks ago, Dyche’s side were handed a real sucker punch at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
David Moyes has now guided the Toffees to four wins from their last five Premier League games.
Three goals and three points for Everton has now seen the Blues provisionally climb up to fifth in the table.
Moyes wished Dyche bad luck ahead of Everton vs Forest and it seems his wish came true after an absolute drubbing for the Reds.
However, the former Everton manager has now taken aim at referee Chris Kavanagh for a decision he made during the game.
Everton v Nottingham Forest - Premier League
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What Sean Dyche said about the referee after Everton vs Nottingham Forest
Dyche was hoping for a pleasant welcome from the Everton fans and he certainly did not receive a negative response.
But it became apparent following the heavy loss that there was something that he was not overly pleased with.
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Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Dyche said Everton defender James Tarkowski was fortunate to get away with
“We were nowhere near it on the physical side. We had the ball in many places but decisions go against us. Also James Tarkowski barges a player in the back and nothing is done, which is a strange decision,” said Dyche.
“But they looked like a team that’s going fifth in the Premier League. Today we were miles off.
“We’re trying to come here and play, but we didn’t start well. Then with the second goal it hits the ref on the way through, which I think should mean the game stops. The ref says it didn’t hit him, but we can see it did.
“It was huff and puff, a few crosses in with no-one near it. The players deserve a lot of credit, but they have to fight and play to your shape. We were well short of that.”
Kavanagh awarded a penalty against Tarkowski away to Leeds United in the opening game of the season for the Blues.
Having conceded an early goal, Forest were up against it from the off and it is apparent Dyche may be clutching at straws with this one.
What Mark Clattenburg said about James Tarkowski’s battle with Dan Ndoye
Everton were without Tim Iroegbunam through suspension, with Idrissa Gana Gueye also set to return next week from his own sanction.
The last thing Moyes needs is another player sidelined through a disciplinary issue.
Speaking to Everton News, Mark Clattenburg has shared his thoughts on the incident, with the former Premier League referee rubbishing any claims for a red card.
Mark Clattenburg has his say – Is Sean Dyche being serious? 🤣
“James Tarkowski deliberately barged Dan Ndoye in the back off the ball after an altercation with the pair seconds before.
“It’s a stupid thing to do especially when VAR would look at everything off the ball.
“However, I do not believe it reaches the criteria of a red card as there is no excessive force used as well as malice and force. It’s merely a barge in the back which should have resulted in a yellow card.”
Mark Clattenburg told Everton News over Tarkowski’s barge on Ndoye.
Mark Clattenburg.
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Everton were by far the better of the two sides and that clearly reflected in the scoreline.
If Forest had a player sent off for something as minor as this, Dyche would have been left furious with the officials.
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