The decision to charge Everton with a disciplinary breach following the game with Crystal Palace is the icing on the cake of 90 minutes that included some baffling officiating.
Home fans, and several of those in the dug out, were left bemused and confused over a game in which it felt the Blues were on the receiving end of several strange calls.
There was the drop ball inconsistency, as Palace were twice given possession following head injuries at opposite ends of the pitch, including when an Everton attack was thwarted by the game being stopped. That sequence of events left the Goodison crowd, James Tarkowski and first team coach Ashley Cole all trying to work out what was going on.
READ MORE: Frank Lampard reveals Nathan Patterson plan as Everton 'headache' emerges
EVERY WORD: Full recap of Frank Lampard's press conference for Fulham vs Everton
Then there was the Jordan Ayew leniency, the forward who somehow escaped a red for his rash challenge on Anthony Gordon - then doubled Palace’s lead minutes later - last time these sides met at Goodison somehow escaped a booking after two poor fouls moments apart. And then, of course, there was the startling decision to initially rule out Gordon’s goal for offside. For once, VAR helped Everton. That it had to be called upon in this instance is still a concern though.
Despite Everton having produced their best performance and biggest win of the season, the decision-making has still been a major talking point since the 3-0 win.
The Football Association’s decision to charge both clubs for failing to ensure their players behaved in an orderly manner has ensured the subject remains in the headlines. The allegation is centred on the fracas that broke out in the 68th minute, when tempers flared in front of the technical areas. They did so because of the apparent frustration of the away side, which had just fallen two behind after the right decision was eventually made over Gordon’s goal.
Marc Guehi went in late on Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Wilfred Zaha, anonymous due to the excellent work of Seamus Coleman, caught Gordon off the ball. What followed was not pretty but it was easy to see why Tarkowski felt the need to make his way to the scene and stand up for teammates. The referee’s reaction should reveal everything anyone needs to know - of the four players who were booked, three were from Palace. For Everton to face disciplinary procedures following that incident is difficult to swallow, even more so following a week in which they have claims to having been on the wrong end of two contentious and important penalty decisions. In the incident against Palace, the players did not start the trouble and were not the antagonists.
Frank Lampard, who was fined £30,000 last season for questioning why Everton were not awarded a penalty at Anfield, today insisted he had 'no opinion' on the latest FA charge. He would only go so far as to say : "I think the first action that started the incident probably wasn't dealt with in the right way in my opinion, and sometimes that flares passions in the ground. I don't think anyone got hurt. Personally, I don't think it was a huge deal but as a club we have taken that on, and that is it."
Lampard choosing his words carefully is sensible. Everton may well decide against challenging the allegation, particularly with Palace having also been charged, suggesting the incident is being viewed from a more general perspective. But it's another frustrating call against Lampard's side and hard to swallow considering just how many have gone against them recently.
READ NEXT:
- What Dominic Calvert-Lewin told Anthony Gordon to do following Everton 'criticism'
- Everton and Crystal Palace both charged with 'breach' of FA rule
- Everton coach reveals Kyle John transfer plan after new contract and Frank Lampard promotion
- 'Different dressing room' - Seamus Coleman makes blunt Frank Lampard Everton transfer point
- England youngster shines as Everton fight back to beat Aston Villa on penalties
