SEAMUS COLEMAN was sent off yesterday as Everton fell to a damaging defeat against Burnely.
The 1-0 defeat, with Coleman’s Republic of Ireland team-mate Jeff Hendrick scoring, sees Everton drop to 17th in the Premier League.
Coleman saw red when Graham Scott, the referee, showed the Killybegs man a second yellow card after a foul on Dwight McNeil. Coleman was already on a booking following an earlier challenge on Erik Pieters.
“It looked a harsh decision, a really harsh decision in my opinion,” Everton manager Marco Silva said.
“After that the game was more difficult for us but our opponent didn’t have big chances. In one set-piece they scored and that detail made all the difference.”
Former Everton and Ireland player Kevin Kilbane also felt the decision was harsh on Coleman.
“That was a very soft yellow card for me,” Kilbane said.
“It’s not an aggressive challenge, it’s not a yellow card for me. Seamus Coleman should still be in the pitch for me.”
However, Burnley boss Sean Dyche had a differing opinion.
He said: “He’s not that type of player at all but the first one, it’s not a great challenge, let’s put it that way, and probably in the modern way that the game is, it’s a red. By the time the second one’s come round, the ref’s really got no choice.”
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