Everton beat Stoke thanks to controversial penalty

Stoke were the victims of a controversial penalty decision at a corner for the second week running as they were beaten 1-0 by Everton, who now move into second.

The spot-kick, which was initially tipped onto the post but went in after hitting goalkeeper Shay Given on the rebound, was awarded by Michael Oliver after Ashley Williams went down.

He was being tracked by Phil Bardsley but replays suggested any contact between the pair’s legs was minimal and accidental.

Having started slowly, Everton dominated for most of the game and had the better of the chances, with Peter Crouch forced into an acrobatic clearance off the line to deny Williams in the first half, and Given was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers.

Stoke will point to the 51st-minute penalty, though, and feel cheated as the home side were wasteful with their other chances.

The Potters’ best chance to equalise fell to Jon Walters, who looked to have a tap-in after Marko Arnautovic’s cutback, but failed to reach the ball.

Michael Oliver's decision to award the penalty which ultimately decided the game was the most controversial incident - and the fact that Stoke also had a penalty given against them at a corner last week versus Manchester City won't have gone unnoticed by Mark Hughes. Contact and shirt-pulling seems to happen at every corner, and with penalties rarely given the inconsistency can be hard to stomach for fans, players and managers when one of these decisions goes against their team, even if it was one of these incidents that, as the cliché goes, would be given as a foul if it happened anywhere else on the pitch. Are Stoke the unfortunate early victims of a crackdown on physical marking at corners, or will everyone be getting away with grappling again in a few weeks' time?

Mason Holgate (Everton): The 19-year-old, playing out of position at right-back, was magnificent in both attack and defence for the Toffees. Defensively he did well to keep Arnautovic quiet and even coped with the physical challenge posed by Peter Crouch, who often looked to peel off to the back post and target Holgate. Going forward he was a willing runner, offering a constant outlet and was involved in some of Everton's best play, including a lovely one-two with Romelu Lukaku that should have resulted in a goal. If he keeps up this form, Seamus Coleman will have a tough time getting his place in the side back.

Everton: Stekelenburg 6, Baines 6, Williams 7, Jagielka 6, Holgate 8, Barry 6, Gueye 7, Bolasie 5, Mirallas 6, Barkley 7, Lukaku 6. Subs: Kone 6, Funes Mori 6, Davies 6.

Stoke: Given 7, Bardsley 6, Shawcross 6, Cameron 5, Pieters 6, Whelan 5, Imbula 6, Allen 5, Diouf 5, Arnautovic 6, Crouch 6. Subs: Walters 5, Bojan 5, Sobhi 6.

24 - SAVE! From a short corner, Williams heads goalwards and looks to have opened the scoring but Crouch is on hand to acrobatically clear off the line.

34 – SAVE! Mirallas stings Given's palms with a strike from the edge of the box.

50 – PENALTY! With Bardsley tracking him, Williams goes down as a corner’s sent into the box and the referee awards a spot kick.

51 – GOAL!Everton 1-0 Stoke. Given tips Baines’ penalty onto the post, but it hits him on the rebound and goes into the net.

78- CHANCE! Arnautovic squares for Walters, who looks to have a tap-in, but he can’t react quick enough and the ball runs by.

With seven points from three games, this is Everton's best start to a season for ten years.

Stoke have had just five shots on target so far this season, fewer than one every 45 minutes.