Garry Monk slams Arouna Kone booking in Everton draw with Swansea
Saturday 11 April 2015 19:01, UK
Garry Monk felt Arouna Kone was lucky not to be sent off during the first half of Everton's 1-1 draw at Swansea.
The Ivory Coast striker was booked by referee Michael Oliver following an aerial challenge on Federico Fernandez, which left the Swansea defender writhing on the floor.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez was unwilling to offer an opinion on the incident during his post-match press conference, but Swansea boss Monk was in no doubt Kone had led with his arm.
"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."
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Swansea equalled their best Premier League points tally of 47 as Jonjo Shelvey scored a 69th-minute penalty to cancel out Aaron Lennon's first-half opener.
The spot-kick was awarded when Seamus Coleman handled just inside the area and while Martinez described it as a "soft penalty", Monk felt he could have been penalised for two different offences.
"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."