LONDON:
Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin was controversially sent off as his side were held to a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round on Thursday.
Calvert-Lewin saw red after a VAR review for the England striker’s foul on Nathaniel Clyne late in the second half at Selhurst Park.
Calvert-Lewin made only a slight contact with Clyne’s leg while winning the ball and Everton boss Sean Dyche was furious with referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision after a lengthy VAR review.
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 injury in the closing stages, but Dyche’s side held out nine minutes from stoppage time to force a replay at Goodison Park later in January.
“Slow motion shows a different picture. If you want to slow everything down, you have to slow everything down,” Dyche said of the VAR used to decide Calvert-Lewin’s fate.
“There is little contact, live it gives nothing, then they slow it down and everything looks worse late.
“Even down to 10 men, I thought the mentality was great. We showed that tonight with another good performance.”
Five-time FA Cup winners Everton last lifted the trophy in 1995 and have been searching in vain for another major piece of silverware ever since.
Deducted 10 points for financial violations earlier this season, fourth-bottom Everton are mired in a Premier League relegation battle.
A run to the FA Cup would be a welcome distraction from their league woes and they can still dream of a 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 to avoid defeat this time around.
Replacing the rested Jordan Pickford, Everton goalkeeper Joao Virginia had to make an early save to keep out Jeffrey Sloop’s half-time volley.
Everton responded with a determined raid as Calvert-Lewin collected Arnout Danjuma for a shot that deflected off Chris Richards into the side netting.
They went close again when Jack Harrison pounced on Danjuma’s tackle and burst for a shot that forced a fine save from Dean Henderson.
Henderson had to be alert moments later, saving with his leg when James Garner’s corner almost sneaked in at the near post.
Schlupp’s cross was cleared off the line by Vitaliy Mykolenko before Palace’s Jefferson Lerma crashed wide from the edge of the area.
Eberechi Eze threatened to break the deadlock early in the second half, but the Palace winger’s effort was tipped over by Virginia, who latched on to Lerma’s header from the resulting corner.
Calvert-Lewin has been without a goal since October and the Everton striker’s lack of confidence was clear when he calmly fired past Henderson from a dangerous position.
Calvert-Lewin took his orders in the 79th minute after his debatable foul on Clyne, but Everton stood firm to ensure no further damage was done.
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