05 February 2024 , 09:38
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Everton Women manager Brian Sorensen will join his Toffees counterpart Sean Dyche in serving a touchline ban next weekend after the Danish coach was sent off during his side's 3-0 loss to Chelsea on Sunday evening.
Sorensen will miss Everton's Conti Cup fifth round clash with Nottingham Forest on Sunday, while Dyche will be absent from his side's tip to treble-winners Manchester City after picking up his third yellow card of the season in the dramatic 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
The Toffees Women's boss wore the same bemused expression as Dyche did just over 24 hours earlier as referee Emily Heaslip brandished a red card in the 43-year-old's face. Everton were already 2-0 down with just over 10 minutes to go due to controversial penalty calls given in the way of Emma Hayes' side, with Guro Reiten on hand to convert both.
And there seemed to be some confusion over Sorensen's substitutions when he was shown a yellow card from Heaslip for apparent dissent. However, moments later Heaslip sent off the Everton boss following what looked to be more complaints over the initial caution. Everton can appeal the decision.
Sorensen's side were unfortunate to concede the first penalty, in which Claire Wheeler was adjudged to have stamped on the foot of Chelsea's Johanna Rytting Kaneryd after clearing the ball inside the penalty area.
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Reiten's conversion from the spot saw Chelsea go a goal up just before the half-hour mark. And the Blues' advantage was doubled less than 20 minutes from full-time as Wheeler once again was adjudged to have brought down a player in the box, this time Chelsea's record-signing Mayra Ramirez. A third goal from Erin Cuthbert added the final gloss to the Blues' victory.
Sean Dyche was booked in Everton men's draw with Tottenham (Getty Images)On the officiating performance, former England international Karen Carney believed Heaslip, who officiated the 1-1 draw between Manchester City and Chelsea earlier in the season in which Lionesses star Alex Greenwood was controversially sent off for time wasting, while Lauren Hemp was dismissed for dissent, "lost control".
"There was a lot of kerfuffle going on in there," Carney said of the first penalty decision on SkySports. "I think the referee lost control today."
Izzy Christiansen was less circumspect about the decision. "Not for me," she said. "I honestly don't think there's anywhere Claire Wheeler can put her foot. I honestly think it's a really, really poor decision."
On the penalties, Everton assistant manager Stephen Neligan said he hadn't seen the penalty decisions in full yet, though "[the players] are disappointed that a game is ultimately decided on decisions that could go either way." Asked about Sorensen's sending off, he added: "I have no idea [about what happened], I stand up at the top."
Everton Women's loss to Chelsea extends their losing streak to four matches in all competitions and leaves them five points off Bristol City in the relegation spot.