Moyes unimpressed by extra assistants
Posted Thursday, September 17, 2009 by PA
Everton manager David Moyes did not feel UEFA's experiment with goalline assistants did his side any favours despite a convincing 4-0 victory over AEK Athens in the Europa League at Goodison Park.
Joseph Yobo and Sylvain Distin both scored from corners and Steven Pienaar fired in a long-range third in first half before Jo added a late goal after the interval.
However, Everton's night was spoiled by the sending off of Louis Saha - AEK had already had Carlos Araujo dismissed - for flicking a hand in the face of Juanfran, who Moyes claimed had provoked the striker.
"It was disappointing. It was a ridiculous kick the boy has on Louis before he got sent off," Moyes said.
"It is amazing that they (the officials) see the small arm but don't see the big kick - even with the extra officials.
"They were looking for something but if they did they initially got it wrong and not to see the kick in the box was really poor.
"We hope they get more decisions right than wrong and I didn't think the referee had an awful lot of big decisions to make tonight but I think one of those he missed the initial incident.
"We need to do everything we can to help the referees but if he was helped in the Louis Saha then I think he was wrong."
Moyes also criticised the AEK players for spending a lot of time on the floor.
"Tonight was strange. British supporters and teams are not used to seeing players being on the ground so often," he added.
"I've always said the one thing we have to cut out of football is diving, that is the biggest thing in football that is wrong at the moment."
Everton paraded new signing Lucas Neill at half-time after the defender signed a one-year contract.
Moyes said he was pleased to have brought in the Australia international, especially as captain Phil Neville was likely to be sidelined by injury for a couple of months.
"I'm pleased to have him. It gives us another player, especially with Phil Neville injured for another couple of months," he added.
"It is very rare you can get a player after the window closes but fortunately he was out of contract and we were able to get him here."
AEK coach Dusan Bajevic said he was not surprised by Everton's strength but stressed his side would improve after this result.
"We expected Everton to be strong at set-pieces and the first two goals were from set-pieces," he said.
"The third goal just finished us off. I am confident that this heavy defeat, along with the difficult fixtures coming up, will make AEK stronger.
"We will forget this result and carry on."
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