Sean Dyche believes Everton were once again undone by a controversial decision after Dominic Calvert-Lewin was brought down in the Bournemouth box.
The forward was caught by Tyler Adams in an incident VAR looked at, leading officials to acknowledge contact was made by the home player. The ECHO understands the decision was not sent back to referee Samuel Barrott because that connection was deemed too “minimal”.
Speaking about the decision in his post-match press conference the Blues boss said he expected a “weird interpretation” to explain why it was the correct call.
It was a crucial moment in a game that was goalless at the time. But Dyche accepted the calamitous second goal, an unfortunate own goal from Seamus Coleman, was also costly as Everton fell to a 2-1 loss.
Dyche said: “How we don’t get a penalty, I think that is what VAR is meant to do, I don’t know, I think we are all scratching our heads about VAR this season… that is actually contact, a proper kick in the shin, how is that not given? They will give me some weird interpretation for sure.”
Dominic Solanke later headed Bournemouth in front before a mistake by home goalkeeper Neto allowed Beto to equalise in stoppage time. But there was still time for the mix-up between Coleman and Jordan Pickford that saw a harmless Adam Smith cross bounce in off the body of the club captain.
Dyche said: “I’m frustrated and disappointed with the dilemmas of the game, for such a simple moment we get confused, there is a miscommunication and then they get a goal out of nothing really. I didn’t think they had us in too much trouble in the second half, and without looking an amazing threat we find a goal, which I am pleased about. I speak to the group and say it can’t always be a perfect goal, it has to sometimes be a fight scene or a toe or a knee or whatever you need to do, which we did and we should go away with a point. But we can’t make mistakes like that.”