Neville says Oliver could be to blame for red card
GARY Neville believes fourth official Michael Oliver could have been the decisive factor in Kyle Walker’s controversial sending off against Everton.
England international Walker was shown a second yellow card for an elbow on Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
But TV replays showed the £45m defender had merely backed into his opponent.
Pep Guardiola refused to be drawn on the subject, despite showing his clear frustration on the sidelines.
But Sky Sports pundit Neville insisted the City defender was wrongly dismissed and suggested Oliver may have made referee Robert Madley’s mind up.
“I genuinely thought at the time – and only the referee will be able to tell us – that Michael Oliver was involved,” he told Monday Night Football.
“The fourth official has got a good view of it, but we won’t know and the referees won’t tell us.
“They are in communication, they are in contact and they are an active official.
“We don’t get to interview the referees, but I genuinely felt he had been given information.”
Guardiola was seen at halftime to demonstrate the incident to Oliver – but when asked for his opinion later, he said: “You cannot ask. Next question.
“I am not going to talk about referees.
“It was so clear – so I don’t want to talk about the referees.”
Neville added: “Kyle Walker has done nothing wrong there in my mind.
“I did it in every single challenge. If someone is bigger than you then you establish your position, make contact before the ball comes and try and head it.” FERNANDINHO appeared to accuse Everton player Dominic Calvert-Lewin of being a “little bit soft” and diving to get Kyle Walker sent off.
The City midfielder was clearly not happy at the dismissal of his team-mate, sent off just before half time with the Blues trailing 1-0.
The Brazilian was an important part of City’s second-half fightback, JACK Wilshere started a SECOND fight in the tunnel following his red card in the under-23 match against City on Monday night.
The England international was dismissed, along with Tyreke Wilson after a melee in the game, played at the Emirates Stadium. as they claimed a point through a Raheem Sterling equaliser.
But he also felt that City should not have had to play the entire second half with ten men, although referee Bobby Madley evened things up with another harsh dismissal – of Everton’s Morgan Schneiderlin – late in the game.
Fernandinho was asked for his opinion of Walker’s dismissal and said:
“It’s tough to say something about a referee’s decision, you have to be careful.
Wilshere reacted angrily to a challenge by City midfielder Matt Smith, shoving the 17-year-old in the chest, causing him to fall to the floor.
Wilson raced across to scuffle with Wilshere, sparking a melee, and the referee sent off both men.
But that was not the end of the incident. The senior player ended up walking down the tunnel alongside Wilson, who was being chaperoned by a City backroom staff member.
“But we are in the Premier League and it is so demanding. And when you have some players who dive and they are so soft, it is a little bit weird.
“But if the referee takes this decision you have to keep going and look for the next game.”
Madley’s decision has drawn widespread criticism, as has his red card for Schneiderlin, but neither Calvert-Lewin nor Aguero will face action under new rules aimed at stamping out diving.
That is because there was actual contact in both challenges.
Because neither player will be retrospectively charged with simulation, that also means that the red cards cannot be rescinded and both Walker and Schneiderlin will serve onematch bans.
That means Walker will miss Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth, although the performance of Danilo down the right, when he came on as a second-half substitute, has eased that problem.
With the City staff man between them, Wilshere appeared to react once again, and lunge at Wilson.
Wilshere was playing for the under-23s after being left out of Arsene Wenger’s first team squad for the opening games of the season.
The 25-year-old Gunners star spent last season on loan at Bournemouth and is fit again after recovering from a broken leg.
He had set up one of Arsenal’s
The red card was key to City dropping points for the first time this season, but Fernandinho believes that the response of the team was encouraging.
“We showed our quality again by creating so many chances – even in the second half with ten men,” he said.
“We hit the post again and unfortunately could not win the game but we need to keep calm because the Premier League is just beginning and we need to prepare for the next game.
“In the first game (against Brighton) they were a tough team to play against – they defended deep in front of their box with ten men, so were patient to create chances. “And against Everton we showed our spirit from the first minute, trying to attack, create chances and keep ball possession. “You need that spirit against teams who defend, especially at home in front of our fans – you need to be aggressive and recover the ball as soon as possible.” Fernandinho goals and they were leading 4-1 at the time of the two red cards – City fought back to 4-3.
Smith scored City’s first goal in reply to strikes from Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah, but Arsenal stretched their lead through further goals from Nketiah and Nelson.
After the dismissals Brahim Diaz and a Lukas Nmecha penalty reduced the deficit but the Blues remain winless after two games.