David Moyes confirms Everton PGMOL talks as defender returns to training

David Moyes confirms Everton PGMOL talks as defender returns to training

David Moyes was quizzed about the fallout to Everton's controversial ending to the 2-2 home draw with Manchester United and the latest team news

David Moyes pictured at his Everton press conference today

David Moyes has confirmed that Everton have spoken to the PGMOL following the controversial VAR decision that robbed his side of the opportunity to beat Manchester United on Saturday. The Blues were awarded a stoppage time penalty with the score at 2-2 at Goodison Park.

But referee Andy Madley changed his mind after being instructed to go to the monitor by the officials in Stockley Park.

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Madley and the VAR officials insist they did check the actions of Matthijs de Ligt as well as his United team-mate Harry Maguire on Ashley Young when overturning the decision.

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But that cut little ice with Everton supporters, who remain furious at the call given footage clearly shows De Ligt tugging at Young's shirt.

It is a call that has been panned by pundits and former referees like Dermot Gallagher and Keith Hackett, who also picked up on other incidents that Madley, whose performance was roundly booed by the Goodison crowd, appeared to have missed.

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And asked for the latest on the fallout, Moyes, speaking at his press conference to preview the trip to Brentford on Wednesday, said: "I still feel the exact way I did at the time - I thought it was a penalty kick and I was a little bit surprised he went to VAR. And when I saw it in the changing room afterwards, I was really surprised.

"Obviously we've been in touch to check it out, and we've spoken to the PGMOL. It's the past now and there's nothing we can do about it, but we were disappointed we didn't get the decision."

Asked what the PGMOL said, the Blues boss replied: "It's mainly the secretary who has spoken to them, and he's been feeding bits back to me, but to be honest, once we didn't get it, I've had to move on, and find a way of hopefully getting some decisions as we go along. We just didn't get it on the day and that was it."

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Moyes continued: "I think there's been a load of pundits who all said it was a penalty kick and I think generally people do think that. It didn't go our way on the day. I'm not seeing it as bad as some people may see it.

"I thought it was a penalty at the time. I don't think you can pull someone's jersey in the way he did and it not be given. But I have to say there's not much Everton Football Club can do. We can complain about it but we can't get any more from it. Hopefully down the line we get a decision which helps us a little bit."

And asked if there had been an apology from the PGMOL, the Scot said: "The club and the PGMOL have been in touch and have been speaking and I don't think there's more to say on that at the moment.

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"I don't know if that changes in time, it's only three or four days ago now, but I think most people are pretty aware it looked like a penalty kick, the referee gave it, and I still don't understand why it went to VAR.

"You just hope the people in the VAR office are experienced people and should know what they are looking for."

The draw stretched Everton's unbeaten run to six matches. And with Ipswich Town losing 4-1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur later in the afternoon, it actually moved the Blues 14 points clear of the relegation places.

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Moyes, however, refuses to believe safety has been secured until the 40-point mark is achieved.

Everton are nine points away from that, with 12 games of the campaign remaining, and the manager said that once that target is reached, the club's new owners The Friedkin Group will begin talks with the players who are out of contract at the end of the season.

The Blues can move closer to 40 points with a positive result on Wednesday at Brentford, who have won their last three away matches but haven't won at home in their previous six.

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Moyes, who is full of admiration for Bees boss Thomas Frank, confirmed that on-loan winger Jesper Lindstrom will be fit for the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium after he came off against Man United.

And he also confirmed that right-back Nathan Patterson is back in training.

Moyes said: "Jesper had a bit of a fever, flu-like symptoms, which he struggled with a little bit. There were a couple of boys who had a little bit of it. But I think they're all fine now.

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"Nathan Patterson is back in training, but he's only been back a day, so I think this game will come too quickly for him."

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