Lampard: We should've had penalty before Branthwaite red card

Everton boss Frank Lampard says his side should have been awarded a penalty for a “clear pull” on Richarlison’s shirt just moments before Jarrad Branthwaite was sent off in the 3-2 home defeat to Brentford.

With Everton leading 1-0, Richarlison appealed for a penalty for a shirt pull by Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer but the visitors then immediately pumped a long ball for Ivan Toney to get behind the home side's defence. The striker got goal side of Branthwaite, who clipped his heels to earn a red card for a last-man challenge in the 18th minute.

The dismissal proved decisive as the Toffees went on to lose and missed the chance to secure their Premier League status to leave Lampard's side still only two points above the bottom three, with two games remaining.

Asked about Branthwaite's red card, Lampard told Sky Sports: "The red card changes the game completely.

"It was as critical as can be because we had complete control. [There was a] possible penalty in the build up to that.

"It was a clear pull on Richarlison's shirt. People want to criticise my players whenever they go down and say they go down too easily. You wonder whether players should go down because that's a penalty.

"Then it goes down the other end and it's a mistake by Jarrad to let him run behind - you've got to run in early, drop off and deal with it easily and we didn't."

Later in his post-match press conference, Lampard added: "When you see that shirt pull [on Richarlison], that's a foul anywhere on the pitch.

"This 'clear and obvious' phrase, I don't know if it still counts but I think it's a nonsense. The decision is either right or wrong. And if a referee can't see it clear and they get the benefit of someone else... it's right or wrong. Is a