A DEN OF THIEVES
Fury as ‘handball’ goal helps Lions win
MURRAY WALLACE grabbed a sensational winner four minutes into added time for Millwall to conquer Everton.
But the Toffees left the pitch in fury – claiming Jake Cooper pushed the ball into their net to make it 2-2 in the 75th minute.
Their players surrounded referee Mike Oliver in uncontrolled anger.
TV shots showed that Cooper did handle the ball into the goal and Oliver consulted a linesman before blowing.
But highlights on the stadium screen showed it was blatant – AND there were at least two Millwall players offside.
The Everton players were furious with Oliver, while Millwall boss Neil Harris demanded the screen be blanked.
Silva was reported to have said “it doesn’tmake sense not to have VAR for the game against Millwall this evening”.
But, with no VAR, the goal stood.
And the match finished with a flurry that had fans on the edge of their seats until the last minute.
Afterwards, scorer Cooper said: “My arm was alongside my body, but you would have to give every penalty that hit your arm if you are going to pull that up.
“We’ll take that and, luckily, we got the winner.”
Millwall took on the Premier League side and made them look very ordinary.
Everton led twice – but boss Neil Harris’ (right) Millwall roared back.
This was cup football in the raw, plenty of action, with chances created and missed.
It was only Lucas Digne’s remarkable headed cleareance that kept out Shaun Hutchinson’s header after Shane Ferguson swung over a wicked 13th minute free-kick.
Everton tried to remain calm, but every time they created openings they had hungry Lions snapping at their heels.
It didn’t help the visitors’ cause that they continued to play with just one lone striker, Dominic Calvert-lewin again the outlet. Silva was desperately needing a boost.
Everton were often caught out by the long ball against a side that has banked points at home.
Little was seen of Richarlison, who for some reason was booed every time he was on the ball.
Ademola Lookman was often an Everton escape route, running, spraying passes, but few failed to follow his lead.
Wayward cleareance by Millwall keeper Jordan Archer seem to be Everton’s main line of attack.
Aiden O’brien often made mesmerising runs to lift Millwall, but Everton defended better than their attackers.
Then came Archer’s howler in the 43rd minute. Richarlison struck
a fairly harmless-looking, 25-yard shot that whipped off the rain-slicked turf... and then squeezed under Archer’s body. But two minutes into first-half injury time, they were level.
Ferguson lofted over another of his menacing free-kicks, Cooper flicked on and Lee Gregory looped a header over England No.1 Jordan Pickford. Everton were often secondbest to most headers swinging into their box and they introduced Kurt Zouma at half- time to try and curb the threat.
But Millwall’s defence were magnificent, with Cooper and Hutchinson making the Premier League strikers look for long periods like also-rans.
However, Cenk Tusun was on just seven minutes before he put Everton ahead again.
But then Cooper’s controversial goal turned the game on its head and Wallace... turned it again.
Shocks don’t come much more dramatic. MILLWALL: Archer 6, Romeo 6, Hutchinson 7, Cooper 8, Wallace 6; Williams 6, Tunnicliffe 6, Leonard 6, O’brien 6 (Skalak 87), Ferguson 6 (Morison 89), Gregory 6 (Pearce 90+6). Subs not used: Martin, Meredith, Pearce, Morison, Skalak, Alexander. EVERTON: Pickford 6, Coleman 6, Keane 6, Mina 5 (Zouma 45, 6), Digne 6, Gueye 6, Gomes 6; Lookman 6 (Walcott 79), Sigurdsson 6, Richarlison 6; Calvert-lewin 5 (Tosun 65, 6), Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Baines, Barnard, Davies. MAN OF THE MATCH: Jake Cooper. Millwall’s defensive hero, no effort, no tackle too much.