David Moyes backs Kevin Nolan after 'horror' tackle

22 February 2009 19:46
Everton manager David Moyes refused to condemn Kevin Nolan on Sunday night after the Newcastle midfielder was sent off in disgrace for an X-rated challenge on Victor Anichebe.[LNB]Moyes accepted Nolan's apologies following his ugly two-footed tackle and was more concerned about the possible loss of his young striker's services through injury as he hobbled off as his Spanish colleague Mikel Arteta, was being whisked back to Merseyside for scans on a worrying knee injury.[LNB]Moyes insisted Nolan had not deliberately set out to harm Anichebe, stating: 'It was undoubtedly a sending off and undoubtedly a bad tackle and we've certainly got a sore boy in Victor Anichebe but I've not known Kevin Nolan to be that type of player.[LNB]'Whether he mistimed it and ended up with his two feet in or whether he got there late, it was a bad tackle Whether he mistimed it and ended up with his two feet in or whether he got there late, it was a bad tackle.[LNB]'We always accept apologies. That's football. I would like to think no footballer would actually go out to harm anyone else. I've been there before and played myself and don't think players do that. But you have to hold your hand up and say it was a bad tackle. You can't do anything else.' Moyes expressed concern over the fitness of Arteta, who was stretchered off in the fourth minute, and Anichebe, stating: 'We have not got all the news on Mikel but it's not looking good.[LNB]"Someone just nudged him on. He twisted it. I don't know how long he will be out. I'll have to wait until I get the report.[LNB]'I'm concerned because the news I'm getting at the moment isn't great. The early look at him wasn't too good.[LNB]'Victor's not okay and will have to be checked out as well. He's limping badly. It's his ankle and knee.' Arteta was stretchered off in the fourth minute with a knee injury after crumpling under Peter Lovenkrands' challenge.[LNB]Despite the loss of their creative fulcrum, Everton enjoyed the early initiative and would have been ahead but for Steve Harper who pulled off a fine one-handed save to deny Joseph Yobo before repelling Jack Rodwell's volley with his feet.[LNB]Lovenkrands wasted the game's best chance when he was sent through by Nolan following an incisive move out of defence but curled the ball narrowly wide.[LNB]That was quickly overshadowed by Nolan's challenge on Anichebe whose shin pads stood up to the most dangerous examinations in the 44th minute.[LNB]Nolan, booked ten times this season while at Bolton, apologised to Anichebe, who was booed by Newcastle fans as he limped off, during the interval and the pai r shook hands in the away dressing room.[LNB]Everton should have exploited the numerical advantage but no Arteta meant none of the guile needed to break down a busy five-man midfield and deep-lying defence in which Sebastian Bassong excelled, restricting the visitors to long-distances efforts, with Harper denying Rodwell in the 90th minute.[LNB]'We had too many players playing out of position,' Moyes added. 'We are getting close to breaking point in some situations. Losing Mikel is a massive blow. In the end we were too patched up to get any real rhythm or flow. It was a missed opportunity. We probably had more chances when they had 11 men.'  Newcastle caretaker manager Chris Hughton, who confirmed Michael Owen had undergone minor groin surgery but was still on target to return to action at Hull on March 14 following ankle damage, defended Nolan.[LNB]'He is very apologetic,' Hughton said. 'In the short period of time I've seen him, he's a very honest pro but we accept it's not best of challenges. It was poorly timed but there was no malice or intent.[LNB]'We knew it would be tough but for us to go down to ten men at the time we did and come through the game with Everton having limited opportunities is testimony to this group's resilience and character.'[LNB]

Source: Telegraph