David Moyes has spoken to the press after Everton's narrow 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.
Everton manager David Moyes
Everton manager David Moyes(Image: Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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David Moyes questioned the decision to rule out Thierno Barry’s second goal but left Hill Dickinson pleased after another Everton win.
The centre forward had put the Blues ahead when a James Tarkowski volley struck him in the chest and wrong-footed Christian Walton after 11 minutes.
While he knew little about that he did well to meet a corner and head it in just before the hour - only for it to be chalked off after a VAR check ruled that Brennan Johnson had impeded Walton while in an offside position. The decision left Everton under pressure to hold onto their narrow lead but they clung on against Ipswich Town, aided by a red card for Abdul Fatawu.
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On the disallowed goal, Moyes said: “I think [the rule is whether] it affects his ability to save it, which I didn't think was the case. But look, it's really difficult for the referees. We understand that. Do I think we'll get consistency from that decision through all the season? I'll be doubtful of that. The goalkeeper wouldn't have saved it. He got taken a little bit to the front post by the runner, Brennan Johnson.
“But it was nothing like last year, last year they were blocking the goalkeepers and doing all sorts of things. It was nothing like that at all. There's no doubt that Brennan was in an offside position, but did he interfere, really? Was the goalkeeper ever going to save it? Ultimately, it didn't make any difference to the result. So, thankfully, that was OK.”
Everton did have other chances to make the game more comfortable, with Johnson missing a one-on-one in the first five minutes and Barry and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall spurning good headed chances.
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Ipswich had several opportunities of their own, with Fatawu and Emersonn drawing important saves from Jordan Pickford and Leif Davis missing the target when free at the back post.
Moyes said: “Look, we had big chances to go further in front today. We didn't. We started quite well, got the goal and looked as if we were going to be fine. Ipswich had a period in the middle of the first half and then we came back into it just before the end of the first half.
"They started a bit better in the second half and then, once the player got sent off, I thought we should have gone on and scored more. So credit to Ipswich for sticking with it and hanging in, they made it a bit nervy at the end. But overall, we did the job. We had a difficult week with a game on Wednesday and today.”