In Saturday’s match against Crystal Palace, Sean Dyche gave Mason Holgate a start despite his previous sending off in the 0-0 draw, writes the LiverpoolWorld.
Holgate, who had not started a match since November, played as a makeshift right-back but had a difficult time and received a second yellow card with just 10 minutes remaining. As a result, Holgate will be suspended for one match, and Everton dropped into the Premier League relegation zone after Leicester’s victory over Wolves. Dyche later explained his decision to start Holgate in the match.
Despite Nathan Patterson being available, he was only named on the substitutes’ bench as Everton captain Seamus Coleman missed his second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury. Sean Dyche believed that Mason Holgate’s ability to deliver crosses from a deeper position could benefit Everton’s attack, but the decision did not turn out as expected. Dyche admitted that it was not successful and Ayew, who played well for Crystal Palace, was perhaps their best player.
“Sometimes if falls on a day you just put a player in. Inevitably, you get two yellows nowadays and you have to go but the second one, he’s sort of hooked, touched the ball but his foot has come over the ball. I can see why the ref has given that one but he didn’t.”