Monk unhappy with Kone challenge

11 April 2015 21:02

Swansea manager Garry Monk felt Everton striker Arouna Kone was fortunate to escape a red card in the 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium.

Kone left Swansea defender Federico Fernandez writhing on the floor in the first half following an aerial challenge which earned the Ivorian a yellow card from referee Michael Oliver.

Everton manager Martinez said he would have to examine television replays before giving a view on the incident, but his former Swansea team-mate Monk was in no doubt Kone had led with the arm and that he was lucky to stay on the pitch.

"I've seen players sent off for less than that," Monk said. "I don't want to see players sent off but I thought it was a hard challenge.

"Federico was the clear favourite to get the ball and I thought he (Kone) was lucky to get away with that."

Swansea equalled their best Barclays Premier League points tally of 47 as Jonjo Shelvey cancelled out Aaron Lennon's first-half opener after 69 minutes.

The spot-kick was awarded when the prostrate Seamus Coleman handled just inside the area and Monk, contradicting Martinez's claim that it was a soft penalty, said the Republic of Ireland defender was actually guilty of two offences, a foul on substitute Marvin Emnes as well as handball.

"Coleman is expecting the contact, he doesn't get it which surprises him a little bit, and Marvin nips in front of him," Monk said.

"Put that anywhere else on the pitch and it's a foul, so it's a penalty, and the handball makes it two fouls in one."

Monk also questioned the decision to disallow Jonjo Shelvey's spectacular first-half effort, ruled out for a Wayne Routledge foul on Leighton Baines with the game goalless.

"I thought that free-kick was very marginal, very harsh," Monk said.

"It also stopped what would have been one of the goals of the season so I'm very disappointed with that."

Martinez insisted referee Oliver should have applied common sense rather than awarding Swansea their point-saving penalty which denied Everton a fourth straight league victory.

"The penalty was a soft moment to drop two points," Martinez said.

"Seamus is clear that he feels contact, he gets in front of the striker trying to get there and if you don't press the brakes quick enough you are going to get some contact.

"The referee at that point has to make a decision whether it's a free-kick or not, but what clearly happens is that Seamus loses his balance and as he falls to the ground he ends up touching the ball.

"It's very, very harsh of the referee to give the penalty and I think he should have applied some common sense.

"We had two or three actions straight after and it was given as a free-kick and it's disappointing you don't get that consistency.

"It's an unfortunate moment when you have a defender off balance and falling into the 18-yard box and it's a huge punishment for our performance.

"It feels like a defeat. We scored a very good goal from open play and the only criticism in the first 25 minutes of the second half was that it was too easy and we did not try to get the second goal."

Source: PA