A week after James Tarkowski’s late equaliser in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool sent Goodison Park into ecstasies, David Moyes admitted that Everton's draw with Manchester United on Saturday felt "closer to a defeat".

The Toffees blew a two-goal lead, scored by Beto and Doucoure in the first half, as Fernandes' 70th-minute free kick, which was United's first shot on target, initiated a fightback later completed by Ugarte's volley to seal the scoreline at 2-2.

"It just slipped away from us in the end," the Scotland international said after the draw. "We had a 2-2 draw against Liverpool and it felt like a win. Today's 2-2 draw feels a little bit like a defeat, but it tells us how far we've come."

However, the moment that sparked controversy happened deep into stoppage time. Referee Madley awarded Everton a late penalty for Maguire's challenge on Young but overturned his decision after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor.

The verdict left Moyes and the players furious as Madley and his officiating team, meanwhile, left the field to boos after earlier chants of “cheat, cheat, cheat” from sections of the Goodison Park crowd.

February 22, 2025

"I don't think the referee shouldn't have been called to VAR," Moyes said post-match on Everton's microphones. "He definitely pulls his shirt, I think if it was the other way around I wouldn't have been surprised if it was given."

Speaking on the incident again during his press conference, he added: “You shouldn’t be getting away with pulling jerseys. From the touchline, I thought he had gone over someone’s leg. Only when I saw it on the screen did I see the pull on the jersey.

“Everybody who watches football is looking forward to a referee saying no I am sticking to what I have done. They are being told (by the VAR) they are absolutely wrong. If it was absolutely clear and obvious, that is what we have got VAR for.”

Everton defender Jake O’Brien also expressed his disapproval, insisting that the official's conduct throughout the whole game was poor. “We are all gutted in there, we think it was a penalty," said the 23-year-old Irishman.

"It would have changed how it went at the end. From what I could see it looked obvious, not like something you would check. It wasn’t just the penalty at the end, I think he has made a lot of wrong decisions today," he concluded.

February 22, 2025

Jake O'Brien

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