Friday 29 January 2016 11:54, UK
Everton captain Phil Jagielka has called referee Martin Atkinson "a little bit arrogant" following his side's League Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City.
Jagielka was unhappy with the response he received when he questioned Atkinson on why a critical City goal was allowed to stand despite Raheem Sterling running the ball out of play in the build-up.
Atkinson and his officials missed the ball crossing the byline before Sterling pulled it back for Kevin De Bruyne to put City 2-1 ahead in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
That contentious 70th-minute goal levelled the tie on aggregate and City went on to progress 4-3 overall after Sergio Aguero's header made it 3-1 six minutes later.
Asked if he spoke to the referee, Jagielka said: "I tried to. He told me that my defending was brilliant. So, it is difficult when things start going the wrong way and they become a little bit arrogant. But unfortunately that is the way it goes with some.
"If he made a decision wrong or he didn't see it, that is what happens, but sometimes when you go and speak to people and, in such a big game, get the answers you get, it is that little bit more frustrating."
The incident was the latest in a series of controversies to have hampered Everton - who are in mid-table in the Premier League - in recent weeks.
In the past month they have been on the wrong end of a disputed penalty against Stoke, an offside strike at Chelsea and a handball incident against Swansea, all of which contributed to defeats.
Jagielka said: "It was a great cutback and a great finish but the replays show it is not just an inch or so out. You expect the officials that are supposed to be of a high standard to spot that but this obviously wasn't one of those nights.
"It did happen quite quickly but the way things have gone in the last few games, people can't see offsides and people can't see the ball out of play. We are obviously feeling a bit annoyed at some of the decisions we have got recently."
