Everton boss David Moyes defends Idrissa Gueye’s red card | OneFootball

Everton manager David Moyes offered a surprising defence of Idrissa Gueye (36) after the midfielder was sent off for striking team-mate Michael Keane during the Toffees’ dramatic 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The flashpoint came in the 13th minute with the game goalless, moments after Bruno Fernandes went close for the hosts. Keane and Gueye exchanged heated words before the defender twice shoved the Senegal international away. Gueye responded with an open-handed slap to Keane’s face, prompting Jordan Pickford to intervene and referee Tony Harrington to brandish a straight red for violent conduct.

Despite playing with 10 men for more than 75 minutes, Everton produced a spirited, resilient performance to secure a famous victory, a display Moyes felt reflected the very same fire that caused the confrontation.

“Do you know something, I quite like when my players have a fight,” Moyes said speaking to the media after the game. “I want them to be tough. If you want a winning team, you need players who demand standards from one another.”

Gueye, now in his second stint at Goodison Park, apologised publicly after the match.“I take full responsibility for my reaction… Emotions can run high, but nothing justifies such behaviour,” he wrote on social media.

Moyes confirmed the 34-year-old addressed his team-mates directly, receiving applause for fronting up. “Big enough to stand up and say he made a mistake. We all move on,” he added.

GFN | Finn Entwistle