admin“This should have been a penalty kick, they are fortunate to get away with this one”- Keith Hackett: Crystal Palace should have had penalty vs Everton as footage is re-analysed
Keith Hackett has insisted Crystal Palace were wrongly denied a penalty during their 2-2 draw with Everton on Sunday.
It was an entertaining affair at Selhurst Park as the Eagles twice battled back to claim a point. While the result carries little weight for Palace, with the Europa Conference League understandably set to dominate focus in their remaining fixtures, the hosts could easily have walked away with all three.
The major flashpoint arrived when Jorgen Strand Larsen was felled inside the Everton box during the first half. Despite James Garner clearly failing to win the ball, referee Thomas Bramall waved play on, making it a contentious draw for Palace just days after they sealed their place in the Conference League final.
Hackett: Garner clearly shoved Strand Larsen over
With the score level at 1-1 late in the first half, Strand Larsen collected possession just inside Everton’s area. As he shaped to make something happen, Garner arrived and pushed the striker to the ground without any genuine attempt to play the ball.
Match stats Crystal Palace Everton
Possession 59.3% 40.7%
Shots 21 13
Shots on target 8 6
xG 2.66 1.55
Corners 5 10
The numbers showed Palace were the superior side, yet Bramall spotted nothing wrong with the challenge, and VAR appeared to concur by not recommending an on-field review. After examining the footage, Hackett branded the decision incorrect and told Football Insider a spot-kick should have been given.
He said: “This should have been a penalty kick. The Everton player clearly pushes his opponent, which is an offence. What determines it as a push is that you see two hands in contact with his opponent’s chest, and on contact, the bent arm straightens. Everton are fortunate to get away with this one.”
What Glasner said after the draw
On the face of it, a point represents a solid result for Palace. Everton are chasing European football, while the Eagles were still recovering from a momentous Thursday night in Europe. The fact they left the ground feeling they could have taken maximum points on another day speaks volumes for the squad.
Speaking to Sky Sports on 10 May, Oliver Glasner expressed satisfaction with the overall performance as his side earned a share of the spoils.
He said: “I am pleased with the performance, especially in the second half. In the end, it felt like Everton played three days ago. We made so much pressure, created chances and missed a few. I am really proud of the team’s effort, the belief we had and also the mentality to play for a win. I think it was a huge performance.”
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