Dominic Calvert-Lewin gets controversial red but Everton hold Palace in FA Cup

LONDON – Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin was controversially sent off as his side held on for a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round on Jan 4.

The striker saw red after a video assistant referee (VAR) review of his studs-up foul on Nathaniel Clyne late in the second half at Selhurst Park. The club said on Jan 5 they have appealed the decision.

Calvert-Lewin made only slight contact with Clyne’s leg while winning the ball and Everton boss Sean Dyche was furious with the decision by referee Chris Kavanagh after a long VAR check, saying VAR is “beginning to test” his patience.

“The slow motion shows a different picture. If you want to slow-mo everything, you have to slow-mo everything,” Dyche said of VAR being used to decide Calvert-Lewin’s fate.

“There’s minor contact. In live time he doesn’t give anything, then they slow it down and everything looks worse slow.

“Even down to 10 men, I thought the mentality was excellent. We showed that tonight with another good performance.”

His opposite number Roy Hodgson conceded he was slightly confused by the decision, calling it a “modern-day situation”.

Everton captain Seamus Coleman added on ITV: “It’s a great tackle, I’ve seen the replay afterwards. I don’t know who the fingers need to be pointed at, (but) as soon as the ref goes over there, you know he’s going to give a red card.

“For me, that’s not a red card, and it’s maybe another decision that goes against us that maybe won’t get talked about as much.”

The first red card of Calvert-Lewin’s career could have been fatal to Everton’s hopes of progressing in the competition.

They also lost winger Dwight McNeil to a serious-looking injury in the closing stages, but Dyche’s team held on through nine minutes of stoppage time to force a replay at Goodison Park later in January.

Five-time FA Cup winners Everton last lifted the trophy in 1995 and have been searching in vain for another piece of major silverware ever since.

Hit by a 10-point deduction for financial breaches earlier this season, fourth-from-bottom Everton are mired in an English Premier League relegation battle.

An FA Cup run would be a welcome distraction from their league travails and they can still dream of the road to Wembley thanks to this gritty display.

Everton won 3-2 at Selhurst Park in the Premier League in November, but after losing their previous three games, they happily settled for avoiding defeat this time.

Hodgson and Dyche chose to field strong teams and though both sides created chances, they largely cancelled each other out.

Everton’s best opportunity came from a first-half corner taken by midfielder James Garner which almost crept in at the near post, but Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson reacted quickly to clear with his feet.

The hosts threatened with crosses and set-pieces after the sending-off and midfielder Eberechi Eze forced a superb stoppage-time save from Joao Virginia, but the home side failed to make the most of their one-man advantage. AFP, REUTERS