Hughes lambasts referee Moss after Everton’s late equalizer

Everton drew level yesterday against Southampton with the last kick of the game as Tom Davies’ deflected shot ended up in the back of the net in front of the Gwladys Street End. The clock was well into the 96th minute at that point, with referee Jon Moss having previously indicated there would be a minimum of four minutes added on.

Saints manager Mark Hughes, along with the players and traveling fans all howled their protestations at Moss who remained unmoved. The two dropped points could yet determine their future in the Premier League as the season draws to a close.

“Unfortunately the officials towards the end of the game haven’t covered themselves in glory if we are honest.

”Nathan Redmond is in the corner and has done a fantastic job to nick the ball off the toes of their centre-half. The assistant referee is about two or three yards away and clearly sees it isn’t a foul but Jon Moss, as he usually is, about 30 yards behind play, decided to give a free-kick.

”To compound that situation he allows them to take it from the wrong position, 10 to 15 yards ahead, and at that point we are still arguing about whether it should have been a free run on goal for ourselves.

“It was difficult to get our shape back, we’d lost a man to a sending-off, and in the end, with hindsight, as a consequence of being down to 10 men we got tired and made the wrong decisions.

”Ryan Bertrand tried to take the ball further up the pitch, got cut out and they get a shot off which gets deflected.

”We are just disappointed with the performances of the officials because it has had a direct impact on us.”

Hughes clearly is not a fan of Moss, but wisely did not question why Moss added the time when his own defender Wesley Hoedt spent the first minute and a half of time added on receiving medical treatment.

Everton have been here in the past, who can forget John Terry’s equalizer for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the 98th minute of a game with just six minutes originally granted.

Moss had earlier sent off defender Maya Yoshida for two cautions as well.

“Second one it was a mistimed tackle and there was a likelihood, considering it was Jon Moss, he would give a red card. ”It was hard on us because clearly we were going to see the game out quite comfortably in my view.

”Having the sending-off and then referees not doing their job happens too often.

”Before games we shouldn’t, as management teams, worry about which referees we have got, but it happens too often and that’s what everyone does: you worry about the referees being strong enough, worry about them playing a direct part in getting key decisions correct or incorrect.

”You shouldn’t have to worry about it. They should be the best and unfortunately they are not.”

When asked if he had spoken to Moss after the game, Hughes retorted -

“What’s the point? He’s probably getting his breath back.”

Hughes’ personal attack on Moss is not likely to go unpunished and he can be expecting a call from the Football Association.