When Everton kicked off their 2019-20 season with a goalless draw at Crystal Palace on August 10, nobody could have predicted that their first penalty award would come at the start of July, some 326 days later.
Everton’s lack of spot-kicks has been a sore subject for former boss Marco Silva and current incumbent Carlo Ancelotti; there had even looked a real possibility that they would go a full campaign without one.
At long, long last, they got one in the first half against Leicester City courtesy of referee David Coote. For a while though, it looked as if another appeal would fall on deaf ears.
Not long after Richarlison had lashed the hosts in front at Goodison Park, Everton had a free-kick just inside Leicester’s half which set-piece specialist Lucas Digne stood over.
The Frenchman, as has become customary since his move from Barcelona in 2018, sent an inviting delivery into the box which drew Michael Keane in blue and Wilfred Ndidi in pink towards the ball, like moths to a flame.
Neither player was able to make good contact on the ball but as it spiralled behind the goal-line, Keane and a few others in close proximity appealed to Coote for a handball from the Nigerian.
Approximately two-and-a-half minutes later, Coote drew out a TV silhouette with his hands and pointed to the spot, much to Ndidi’s indignation and the surprise of Everton’s social media team.
15' PENALTY TO EVERTON!!!
No, seriously. ????
???? 1-0 ???? #EVELEI
— Everton (@Everton) July 1, 2020
Gylfi Sigurdsson, named in the starting line-up for the first time since Project Restart, deceived Kasper Schmeichel and confidently stroked the ball right down the middle as if he’d had regular practice all season to double his team’s advantage.
Not only was it Everton’s first penalty in 2019-20, but it was also their first in precisely 38 Premier League games, stretching way back to March 2019 against Chelsea.
That it has taken that long suggests they might have been a tad unfortunate not to have a chance to score from 12-yards on one or two occasions and were it not for VAR, they wouldn’t have got this one either.
That was the opinion of Jamie Carragher on commentary for Sky Sports anyway as he said: “It’s undoubtedly a penalty which wouldn’t have been awarded without VAR.”
Leicester felt aggrieved at the decision and the time it took for those in Stockley Park to make their minds up suggests their complaints weren’t merely performative.
It goes from bad to worse from #LCFC…
After two-and-a-half minutes, VAR gives #EFC a penalty for handball! ????????
Was it a clear and obvious error?
???? Watch on Sky Sports Main Event
???? Follow #EVELEI here: https://t.co/6qkmd8L0O1
???? Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/c7pDH085Ez— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 1, 2020
Although the ball did seem to brush Ndidi’s arm, it also took a knick off Keane’s too as both players raised their arms upwards to gather the necessary momentum to attack the airborne ball.
Crucially, though, replays did seem to show that the first touch was Ndidi’s and the penalty, therefore, was correctly awarded, albeit later than perhaps it should have been.
Other than those with of a Leicester City persuasion, few could begrudge Everton for finally getting a long-overdue spot-kick.
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