Sport nationEverton vs Nottingham Forest: Gary Neville shocked by ‘horrendous’ fallout at Goodison
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Gary Neville is not impressed with the fallout from Everton vs Nottingham Forest
Everton vs Nottingham Forest: Gary Neville shocked by ‘horrendous’ fallout at Goodison Park
Gary Neville has branded Nottingham Forest’s reaction to controversy in their defeat to Everton “absolutely ridiculous”.
The Sky Sports pundit reacted live on the broadcaster’s coverage of Fulham vs Liverpool on 21 April after the 2-0 victory at Goodison Park, after Forest’s official Twitter account pointed blame at VAR Stuart Attwell over three penalty decisions during the game while accusing him of supporting Luton Town.
Ashley Young was at the centre of all three incidents, none of which were given, with the visitors furious afterwards in suggesting the official’s allegiance to their relegation rivals was behind it.
That message is now set to be investigated and is expected to land Forest with a punishment from the authorities as a result.
Neville said, via the Liverpool Echo: “I just want to comment on that Nottingham Forest statement… It is a horrendous statement by that football club and it lets the proud history of that club down. And that they inferred cheating as suggested by the fact there is a Luton Town official is absolutely ridiculous.”
Stuart Attwell blamed over Ashley Young incidents in Everton win
So often over the past few relegation battles it has been Everton who were left on the wrong end of controversial decisions that jeopardised their top-flight future.
This time the shoe is on the other foot and Forest have reacted in a big way after being denied a spot kick in defeat three times.
Young’s challenges on Giovanni Reyna and Callum Hudson-Odoi, as well as a handball shout, were all denied by both Anthony Taylor on the pitch and Attwell in the VAR room as fortuned smiled on Sean Dyche and his players.
The Toffees boss was in huge need of a reaction after the 6-0 hammering this week at Chelsea, and after taking the risky step of publicly pointing responsibility towards his players amid calls for him to be sacked it largely paid off.
Stuart Attwell was accused of bias after the Everton win.
It cannot be denied that Everton were fortunate this time, but all too often the Toffees have failed to take advantage of opportunities that have been afforded to them.
But thanks to goals from Idrissa Gana Gueye and Dwight McNeil they seized on the chance to record a vital win and put some distance between themselves and their rivals at the centre of the latest controversy.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are eyeing a move to sign a sought-after Premier League ace for free.
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Amina Umar