Lucas Digne was sent off for a foul on Kyle Walker-Peters during Everton’s 2-0 defeat at Southampton
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti says the club will appeal the decision to send off Lucas Digne during Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Southampton.
Referee Kevin Friend brandished a straight red card for a foul by the Frenchman on Kyle Walker-Peters after 72 minutes at St Mary’s as Everton’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season came to an end.
While his side were well beaten on the south coast, Ancelotti is determined for his full-back to avoid a three-match ban for violent conduct, which is set to rule him out of games against Newcastle, Manchester United and Fulham.
When asked for his views on the red card, Ancelotti told Sky Sports: “It was a joke – it was not intentional. It was not violent conduct so they could’ve checked better. Maybe all the rumours during the week against [Jordan] Pickford and against Richarlison affected the decision, and if it is like this, it’s not right. It’s not fair.”
The Italian later reiterated in his post-match press conference: “I think we’re going to appeal. It could be a yellow card but it wasn’t violent conduct and the red card was unfair.
“It was not a bad challenge I saw – it was not intentional as he was running behind and he had a contact with the ankle of the opponent but he didn’t have the intention to use violent conduct, so it was not the right decision.”
The visitors struggled to get going as Saints were clinical, taking a two-goal lead inside the first half.
James Ward-Prowse fired past England number one Jordan Pickford to break the deadlock before Che Adams benefitted from a deflection less than 10 minutes later.
“It was not a good day and it was not a good performance,” Ancelotti added. “We’re here to talk about the first defeat and I feel we have to move forward. Of course, we don’t like to lose games but in football it happens. We have to move forward from this game with the same belief that we had when we arrived here. It can happen.
“I think we have to check in the next few days, but he was tired at the end. He felt his muscle towards the end, but I don’t think it’s a big problem. It’s true the game was difficult for everyone.
“I’m disappointed because we lost the game, but I cannot forget what we’ve done until now and we have to keep going in order to continue to do well. We’re still at the top of the table which is an unbelievable achievement for us, and we have to try to stay there.”
This was still a scalp for the hosts, who overcame the team starting the day top of the Premier League for the first time in 12 matches, since a 1-0 victory at Anfield against Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool in September 2013.
It came precisely a year to the day since Southampton’s 9-0 home defeat to Leicester – and Hasenhuttl was asked if the anniversary was used as a motivational tool during the week.
“The word intent is thrown about, but players don’t intend to injure other players. Digne’s tackle is an accident, it’s a yellow card, get on with the game. I really hope the referee and authorities look at it and see it’s not a red card.
“It’s already cost Everton because they had to play a large chunk of this game with 10 men, but the three-game ban for serious foul play has to be overturned. If we get to the stage where that is a red card, the game is officially gone.”
Southampton 2-0 Everton: Carlo Ancelotti vows to appeal ‘joke’ Lucas Digne red card
Lucas Digne was sent off for a foul on Kyle Walker-Peters during Everton’s 2-0 defeat at Southampton
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti says the club will appeal the decision to send off Lucas Digne during Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Southampton.
Referee Kevin Friend brandished a straight red card for a foul by the Frenchman on Kyle Walker-Peters after 72 minutes at St Mary’s as Everton’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season came to an end.
While his side were well beaten on the south coast, Ancelotti is determined for his full-back to avoid a three-match ban for violent conduct, which is set to rule him out of games against Newcastle, Manchester United and Fulham.
When asked for his views on the red card, Ancelotti told Sky Sports: “It was a joke – it was not intentional. It was not violent conduct so they could’ve checked better. Maybe all the rumours during the week against [Jordan] Pickford and against Richarlison affected the decision, and if it is like this, it’s not right. It’s not fair.”
The Italian later reiterated in his post-match press conference: “I think we’re going to appeal. It could be a yellow card but it wasn’t violent conduct and the red card was unfair.
“It was not a bad challenge I saw – it was not intentional as he was running behind and he had a contact with the ankle of the opponent but he didn’t have the intention to use violent conduct, so it was not the right decision.”
The visitors struggled to get going as Saints were clinical, taking a two-goal lead inside the first half.
James Ward-Prowse fired past England number one Jordan Pickford to break the deadlock before Che Adams benefitted from a deflection less than 10 minutes later.
“It was not a good day and it was not a good performance,” Ancelotti added. “We’re here to talk about the first defeat and I feel we have to move forward. Of course, we don’t like to lose games but in football it happens. We have to move forward from this game with the same belief that we had when we arrived here. It can happen.
“I think we have to check in the next few days, but he was tired at the end. He felt his muscle towards the end, but I don’t think it’s a big problem. It’s true the game was difficult for everyone.
“I’m disappointed because we lost the game, but I cannot forget what we’ve done until now and we have to keep going in order to continue to do well. We’re still at the top of the table which is an unbelievable achievement for us, and we have to try to stay there.”
This was still a scalp for the hosts, who overcame the team starting the day top of the Premier League for the first time in 12 matches, since a 1-0 victory at Anfield against Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool in September 2013.
It came precisely a year to the day since Southampton’s 9-0 home defeat to Leicester – and Hasenhuttl was asked if the anniversary was used as a motivational tool during the week.
“The word intent is thrown about, but players don’t intend to injure other players. Digne’s tackle is an accident, it’s a yellow card, get on with the game. I really hope the referee and authorities look at it and see it’s not a red card.
“It’s already cost Everton because they had to play a large chunk of this game with 10 men, but the three-game ban for serious foul play has to be overturned. If we get to the stage where that is a red card, the game is officially gone.”
