Bosses hit out at ref justice

Everton boss Moyes was angry with the booking that will mean record signing Marouane Fellaini is banned for both the upcoming derby battles with Liverpool. Hull chief Brown, meanwhile, was furious that Everton's first goal by Fellaini was allowed, despite the Belgian looking in a clear offside position.

Brown said: "I have heard Tony Pulis (Stoke manager) talking recently about the little clubs not getting the decisions. When I was at Bolton, it was Sam Allardyce's theme and it got to sound like a broken record. But our whole season has been unhinged by a succession of officials and decisions we are not happy with."

He added: "The first goal, with Everton not conceding in the previous five, was always going to be crucial at Goodison Park.

"But the first was wrong, even though Mikel Arteta's free-kick was a touch of brilliance from a brilliant player. But that would have made it 1-0 at the break and we would still have been in the game."

He added: "But I have players with blood all over their shirts, so they gave it everything in that second period. But the first goal was a bad decision from an assistant referee who is looking right along the line of the defence.

"It killed us. We worked on not giving Fellaini space in the six-yard box, and we achieved that. But he was in an offside position in space we had left him in by squeezing out."

Moyes was delighted with the victory, but angry that he will now lose Fellaini, saying: "We were in control and Tim Howard had just a couple of catches to make. The downside was the booking for Fellaini.

"I have seen it now on TV and the Hull lad ducked his head down to about four feet off the ground, Fellaini is looking at the ball and toe-pokes it away.

"It can't seriously be dangerous play, you are entitled to challenge for that. It was a costly decision and clubs do get people suspended."