Wednesday 13 April 2016 23:37, UK
Roberto Martinez called James McCarthy sending off “very, very harsh” as he team ground out a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.
McCarthy was shown a second yellow card on 51 minutes for a block on Yannick Bolasie but Palace couldn't find a breakthrough despite the man advantage as Everton showed great resilience to leave with a point.
"When I saw it live I thought it was a second yellow card, but when you watch it again it's very, very harsh," he said.
"I don't think it's a yellow card at all. James McCarthy knows the situation in that he's coming across to win the ball but he doesn't make contact with the Crystal Palace player.
"The ball gets played forward and it's almost Yannick Bolasie goes into James McCarthy, who can't disappear. He doesn't intend to get in the way of the Palace player - it's a very harsh second yellow. We had to adapt but it's not good moaning about it or to accept it cost us."
Martinez's team have been criticised this season for conceding goals late on in games but the manager was proud of the way his defence stood up to Crystal Palace's pressure.
"When you play for a long period with 10-men you're going to get tested," he said.
"We had to defend with good concentration and strong resilience. I think it was important to show that. You look at how many chances we created and it was just as many as Crystal Palace.
"You would expect for Crystal Palace to carry a threat but we defended really well. Joel Robles was really good when he had to be and equally Wayne Hennessey had to be at his very best to save from Seamus Coleman, Ramiro Funes Mori and Ross Barkley.
"The performance from the two sides were very equal in front of goal. That pleases me as we had to do it with 10-men for 45 minutes."
