Everton moved up to fifth in the Premier League as Thierno Barry's goal was the difference against 10-man Ipswich Town on Saturday - but the Blues were not helped by VAR
Jordan Pickford and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall react as referee Stuart Attwell rules out Thierno Barry's second goal for offside following a VAR check
Stuart Attwell ruled out what would have been Thierno Barry's second goal for Everton against Ipswich(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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James Tarkowski believes Premier League referees should be allowed to use common sense when making controversial offside calls. David Moyes and his players felt they were denied a perfectly good goal during their 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town at the weekend.
Thierno Barry thought he had headed his side further ahead midway through the second half, but referee Stuart Attwell was advised by VAR Brennan Johnson was offside in front of Christian Walton despite the pair being in the opposite half of the goal to where the ball went in. Fortunately for Everton, it did not affect the overall result, but Tarkowski reckons a change should be made. “My opinion is that they probably should be allowed common sense from the referee to say he is obviously getting nowhere near it," he said.
“But the law doesn't allow them to do that, so he has got his hands tied behind his back a little bit there.
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“The refs are intelligent people and they should be allowed to decide whether they think the goalkeeper has got a chance of saving it or not, but it is what it is.”
Barry had already given the Blues a first-half lead when a Tarkowski effort hit him and flew into the net.
The forward has resembled a striker reborn this season, with his early-season form being a far cry from last year, when he had to wait until December to score his first goal for the club.
He now has five goals to his name and his progress has certainly caught the attention of his skipper.
Everton's Thierno Barry celebrates scoring a goal
Everton's Thierno Barry scored the winner against Ipswich(Image: Alex Dodd/Shutterstock)
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“He ruined it for me! "No, it dropped, and I just thought the situation were was in,” Tarkowski said. “It dropped and I just thought I would try and get a shot on target and luckily it hit Thierno and goes in.
“I am pleased for him as he keeps getting himself in positions to score goals and sometimes as a striker it hits you and goes in, so fair play to him because there is a lot on him as he is our only out and out forward.
“There is a lot of expectation on him, but he’s got a few goals for us now, so I am really pleased for him.”
While at the other end of the pitch, the Blues have kept five clean sheets in all competitions so far this season and Tarkowski believes it is down to a collective effort.
"We've always prided ourselves on our defensive solidity and we're going to continue that," he told evertonfc.com.
"I know you mentioned us at the back there, but there's a lot of work that goes on in front of us. Harrison [Armstrong] four or five times made some terrific tackles and was tracking back for us.
“We want to build from that base, really. Try and stop as many goals as possible and that gives us a chance of being in the game."