Everton manager David Moyes admitted that referee Howard Webb had made a “terrible decision” in awarding his team the penalty that ultimately salvaged a point for his side at Sunderland.
The Scot spoke out after Webb pointed to the penalty spot after Leon Osman had tumbled to the ground when miskicking despite appearing not to have been challenged by a Sunderland player.
Leighton Baines knocked home the resultant spot-kick amid howls of derision from Sunderland fans who had seen Jack Colback put their side on course for a first win over Everton since December 2001.
Moyes was quick express his sympathy for Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill following their 1-1 draw and admitted that his team had benefited from a miscarriage of justice.
“It is a terrible decision by the referee,” Moyes told reporters at his post-match press conference.
“It wasn’t a penalty kick and Martin O’Neill should feel hard done by. I initially thought it was a penalty but I have had a chance to see it again and I don’t think it is a penalty kick.
“I have come out and been as honest as I can. I always tell people what I see in the game. And it wasn’t a penalty kick.”
Despite the penalty decision, Moyes maintained that the draw was a fair result but is concerned about his team’s lack of finishing power.
“It is a hard time to come to Sunderland with a new manager and a bit of momentum and Martin has got them going. It was always going to be a hard game for us to win,” Moyes added.
“We played really well for 25 minutes when we were the better team and created two really good chances for Tim Cahill and Louis Saha. We couldn’t capitalise by scoring and Sunderland grew into the game and took the lead with what was an own goal because the shot was going into the goalie’s arms but took a deflection and went in.
“Sunderland got better in the second half but the conditions were terrible. We passed the ball well for 30 minutes and looked good but didn’t do much with it. But on the other hand, we didn’t have to defend an awful lot so a draw in the end was a fair result.
“It is clear for all to see that if we had taken our chances in the first half we could have been out of sight in the first 20-30 minutes but we didn’t. The lack of goals is a massive concern.”
Moyes had to make do without Marouane Fellaini who was ruled out of the trip to Wearside with injury.
“Fellaini is a big player for us and we missed him today because he has an adductor strain,” Moyes said. “He is really important for us and so we had to change things around a wee bit.”