Frank Lampard says VAR failed Coventry City in defeat by Everton

Frank Lampard criticised the refereeing decisions that went against Coventry City after their 3-1 defeat by Everton at the beginning of round 10 of the Premier League.

Everton’s victory moved them up to fifth place with 16 points, while Coventry remain 16th on nine points.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Coventry manager Lampard said he did not want to appear to be making excuses, but argued that key decisions had influenced the result.

“I hate to sound like someone who complains a lot,” he said. “It is only a football match, and if you win the game, these things can happen. I have worked here and I know how the momentum of a match can change.”

Lampard said his criticism was focused on the impact of the decisions rather than the circumstances surrounding the game.

“I am not trying to talk about the conditions of the match itself, but when big decisions change the course of games, they really do change them,” he added. “It is disappointing. VAR is there for that reason, but it did not do its job.”

One incident came in the first half when Everton defender James Tarkowski was involved in an incident with Caleb Yirenki. Lampard said the decision had been checked by VAR but believed the replay showed enough evidence for a penalty.

“The decision involving Tarkowski in the first half was checked,” he said. “When you watch the replay, you can see him pulling Caleb’s hair.”

Lampard acknowledged that the rules had changed and that the incident might not meet the threshold for a red card, but insisted the contact had affected the Coventry player’s ability to challenge.

“I thought the rules were clear,” he said. “I know they have changed the rules so that a player does not deserve a red card, and I understand that as well, but he was pulling his hair and [Yirenki] could not jump with the same power.

“I think it was a foul that warranted a penalty, but they decided not to give it.”

The Coventry manager also claimed there had been a handball by Thierno Barry before the Everton forward scored the visitors’ opening goal.

He further said Coventry should have been awarded a penalty for a foul inside the 18-yard box, rather than outside it, adding to his frustration over the decisions made during the match.