Moyes unhappy with officials

Everton manager David Moyes bemoaned the performance of the officials during his side’s 2-2 draw against Wigan on Saturday.

Wigan took the lead in the 10th minute through Ivorian striker Arouna Kone’s close-range header, but Moyes felt the striker was in an offside position when he met Shaun Maloney’s front-post cross.

“I think we had a really rough day with the decisions today,” he told reporters.

“What we got, we earned ourselves. The first goal (from Kone) was offside, definitely, half a yard offside.

“The linesman is nowhere (near) in line. I’ve had a look and he’s three or four yards behind the ball.”

Kone’s strike and a Franco Di Santo effort in the 24th minute saw the hosts lead 2-1 at the break, but a half-time dressing down from the Scot inspired the in-form Everton, and they were rewarded for a good second half performance as Leighton Baines scored from the penalty spot in the closing minutes.

“A thoroughly deserved point,” Moyes said.

“We didn’t do enough (in the first half). We played really well in the second half, Kevin Mirallas has a great chance and the keeper’s made a great save.”

And Moyes was full of praise for former Wigan man Baines after he calmly stepped up to fire home another late penalty against Roberto Martinez’s side.

“(Baines’) penalty was fantastic,” he said. “His performance was up there with as good as anything.

“I’m glad he didn’t miss today.”

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, meanwhile, was keen to take the positives from the match, and hopes it can inspire a turnaround in their fortunes with the club having recorded just one win from their seven matches so far.

“I thought it was a very positive performance from our point of view and a performance that can kick-start the season,” Martinez told Sky Sports.

“Our football was composed and of a real high standard. We looked a real threat every time we went into the final third.

“In the second half Everton created a lot of momentum as you would expect but then we created the better chances on the counter. But today we felt we probably needed the two goal cushion to get the three points.”