HUGHES IS IN A SPOT OF BOTHER
EVERY KICK, EVERY GOAL, EVERY Potters keep paying penalty for changes to the rules
MARK HUGHES may be wondering what he can do to stop Stoke being punished in their own penalty area.
Another game this season and another one where tussles in the box proved costly for Stoke, as Phil Bardsley gave away a penalty that decided this clash at Goodison Park.
It led to the Stoke boss considering a new way to rule on the latest directive given to referees about physical contact in the area, especially around set-pieces, after decisions against Manchester City and the Toffees went against his side.
“Apparently the Premier League has got a big office or a big studio in the south and all the referees sit around all the screens as the feeds come in,” a frustrated Hughes said. “Why are they doing that? “Maybe that is what they are thinking of doing in the future, that you refer back to this match centre, or whatever it is called, and they make decisions and take it out of the hands of the referee. It might be a good thing.”
Weak
But while there are problems for Stoke at the back because of refereeing decisions regarding their robust defending, they are weak at the other end.
Hughes has failed to really strengthen his attack, with a failed bid for Saido Berahino so far this summer.
And while Peter Crouch was ineffective in this game, Marko Arnautovic was barely in it before Bojan also failed to threaten when he came on.
“We are in the market like everyone else,” Hughes said.
“We haven’t been able to get as many over the line as we would have hoped at this point but there has been a lot of work going on in the background.
“Some have gone away and some have come back. That is how the window develops.
“It may resolve itself prior to the last day of the window but it could go to the last minutes.”
Leighton Baines’ 51st-minute penalty was tipped onto the post by Shay Given only for it to rebound, hit the Stoke keeper and find its way into the net.
It came after Bardsley tripped Ashley Williams in the area and led to Hughes (right) claiming Stoke are being punished more than other clubs for incidents in the area because of their reputation as a physical team.
Whether it was a penalty or not, it maintained Everton’s unbeaten start under new boss Ronald Koeman.
Captain Phil Jagielka has noticed some changes from the previous regime under Roberto Martinez and is excited about Koeman’s reign.
Asked about the changes he said: “There hasn’t been anything massive. I don’t think we are playing the ball around as much as we did in our own half but we are playing decent football.
“We have some talented players going forward. Spurs, West Brom and Stoke have given us three different types of tests but we stood up to it quite well.
“We could have had more goals and we’ve ridden our luck a couple of times.
“There has not been a tremendous amount of difference but we have only been together for eight or nine weeks and a few players have come a bit later, but it is exciting times ahead.” Midfielder James McCarthy’s move away from Everton may be scuppered by a groin injury that could need surgery. 7; EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg 7, BAINES 8; Holgate 6, Jagielka 7, Williams 88), Barkley 6 Barry 6, Gueye 7; Bolasie 6 (Davies 70, 6); Lukaku (Funes Mori 84), Mirallas 7 (Kone Oviedo. 6. Subs: Robles, Deulofeu, Lennon, League, UP NEXT: Sunderland (a), Premier Monday, September 12. 6, STOKE (4-1-4-1): GIVEN 8; Bardsley 6; Whelan 7; Shawcross 7, Cameron 6, Pieters (Bojan 78), Allen Diouf 5 (Ramadan 78), Imbula 6 65, 6). Subs: 6, Arnautovic 5; Crouch 6 (Walters Haugaard, Muniesa, Adam, Ngoy. League, UP NEXT: Tottenham (h), Premier Saturday, September 10. Referee: Michael Oliver 7. last-minute YOUR TURN: Who scored Stoke’s at Everton spot-kick winner in their 4-3 victory last season?