Benitez cries foul over challenge on Pickford in build-up to winner
Rafael Benitez fumed at the decision to award West Ham United a corner during the build-up to the goal that ended Everton’s unbeaten home start to the season.
The Everton manager claimed that his goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, was fouled in the build-up to Angelo Ogbonna’s decisive header.
Pickford was challenged by Michail Antonio, but referee Stuart Attwell judged it to be fair.
“I was disappointed because we said how dangerous they could be [from set-pieces],” Benitez said.
“The way the corner was given was more disappointing. I have a problem because I am from Spain and normally in Europe the six-yard box is to protect the keeper. When you have a player blocking the keeper in the six-yard area it is a free-kick – and then you can argue whether there is a corner or not. You have to protect him.
“I will not change the perception. I spoke to the fourth official but they have their own idea and I will not change that after so many years. Why do you have the six-yard box? It is there for the keeper. The keeper sometimes goes for the ball and you cannot see what is coming from one side, which is why you have the sixyard box and not just for goal-kicks.”
David Moyes, the West Ham manager, said he did not see a replay of the incident, but felt the decision was in keeping with a more lenient approach throughout this Premier League season.
“I genuinely don’t know,” Moyes said. “I think there is more contact in the game now, we are enjoying it more and the referees are refereeing much better.”
For Moyes, victory against his former club was a deserved reward for an excellent away performance in which midfielder Declan Rice once again shone.
“It would be hard to say how good he was,” Moyes said. “He was excellent, head and shoulders above anyone on the pitch. He passed it, recovered the ball and did all the dirty bits of the game. I can’t speak highly enough of Declan. There is big improvement in Declan, and that is good for us.
“I want the team to challenge. I want the team to get us a victory wherever they go. We have a good team. We are playing well, and maybe we have not done enough in the final third in the last two games.
“I was annoyed [before the winning goal] because I thought our play warranted goals, but Everton blocked a lot of shots and defended well. It was a tough game and I thought it would always be like this.
“Now we want to keep it going and do well in the league and Europe.”