Manchester City march on after narrow in controversial circumstances at Everton

Everton were controversially denied a late penalty as Manchester City narrowly avoided another slip up in the title race with a 1-0 win at Goodison Park.

Having laboured to take an 82nd minute lead through Phil Foden VAR was asked to rule on a ball which struck the arm of midfielder Rodri.

Referee Paul Tierney had not given a decision on the pitch and the off-field official said there was no reason to change that – much to the fury of home fans who had the old stadium bouncing again after watching an encouragingly hearty performance from their team.

It was a huge escape for Pep Guardiola’s side, who extended their lead over Sunday’s Carabao Cup finalists Liverpool back to six points having played one match more, and harsh on opponents who worked incredibly hard in the face of increased relegation pressure.

Everton, without striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin after he failed a late fitness test on a minor groin problem, started the match just a point above the bottom three.

The club dispensed with the now traditional air raid siren which precludes the playing of Z-Cars in light of the conflict in Ukraine but the atmosphere was actually probably even more emotionally charged.

Manchester City’s Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko and fellow countryman Vitalii Mykolenko, of Everton, were in tears on their respective benches as the home side emerged from the tunnel draped in Ukraine flags with City’s players wearing T-shirts bearing the flag of their homeland and the words ‘No War’ as ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ was played in the stadium.

A reaction was expected from City after their defeat to Tottenham last weekend but Pep Guardiola’s side were poor in the first half as the home side raised their game from their previous