Mason Holgate was brought into the Everton starting line-up against Crystal Palace for reasons that included his ability to deliver balls from deeper areas, Sean Dyche said.
Holgate was a surprise inclusion, replacing Ben Godfrey and being selected at right-back ahead of Nathan Patterson for the draw at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace targeted Holgate, who was embroiled in a battle with Jordan Ayew that ended when the 26-year-old received a second yellow card with 10 minutes left. Both bookings were for fouls on Ayew.
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Asked about the decision to start with Holgate following the game, Blues boss Dyche said: “It was a change of that unit and that delivery, he can deliver from deeper and we just wanted to use that side of the game. It didn’t quite work out as you can tell but Ayew played well, he was arguably the best player for them, their most productive player so sometimes it falls on a day when you have just put a player in.”
James Tarkowski felt Holgate had got some of the ball when he was adjudged to have fouled Ayew in the incident that saw him sent off. Dyche agreed. He said: “He has kind of touched the ball but his foot has slid over the top of the ball. I can see why the ref gives it but on another day you might get away with that one, but we didn’t.”
Asked whether he had considered withdrawing Holgate amid the risk of him being sent off, Dyche added: “Yes. But there is risk and reward with the team operating in a way they knew how to operate. The shape was good, the commitment to it was good, we were on the edge of finding a moment and didn’t quite find it. You have got to be careful with those decisions, sometimes the hardest thing to do in football is nothing.”
Holgate will be suspended for Everton’s next game, at home to Newcastle United on Thursday. Dyche gave little away over whether Seamus Coleman might return from injury for that game, with both Godfrey and Patterson among the options if the club captain is unavailable.
Godfrey was brought on for Demarai Gray to play at right back following the red card to Holgate.
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