‘Desperate’ – Former England coach says Dyche is ‘clutching at straws’ with his comments, Ben Foster agrees

During Everton’s match against Newcastle United, Dominic Calvert-Lewin went down in the penalty area following a challenge from Dan Burn.

However, VAR ruled that Burn was not at fault, a decision that frustrated Everton supporters at Goodison Park.

Despite the home crowd’s displeasure, former England coach Dave Watson agreed with the officials when discussing the incident on The Football Fill-In on October 8.

Watson stated, “I think it can go to VAR, but it was never a penalty, and that’s exactly what VAR is designed for.

To be fair, the referee made the right call on the day, and it’s actually Burn who was fouled.”

He also suggested that Everton manager Sean Dyche was grasping at straws in his post-match comments, calling Dyche “desperate” in his appeal for a penalty.

Ben Foster echoed Watson’s sentiment, admitting that while he initially questioned the decision, seeing the replay confirmed it wasn’t a penalty.

“Burn did well to get in front of him. I don’t think it was a penalty,” Foster remarked.

The decision has sparked debate among fans and pundits, with some supporting referee Craig Pawson’s call and others disagreeing.

According to the officials, Calvert-Lewin kicked Burn, causing his own fall, rather than being fouled by Burn.

Critics argue that if Burn hadn’t stuck his foot into the space, Calvert-Lewin wouldn’t have gone down, making it a 50/50 decision that could easily go either way depending on the game.

One consolation for Dyche is that Everton didn’t lose due to the controversial decision.

In fact, Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon was awarded a penalty later in the game, which Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved, creating a memorable moment for the Goodison crowd.

However, the inconsistency in decisions—James Tarkowski’s penalty conceded against Everton, but no punishment for Burn’s challenge—remains a point of contention for home supporters.