James Tarkowski rues 'dubious' decision that led to Manchester City goal - 'Something else goes against this club'

Everton defender James Tarkowski described the corner that led to Manchester City’s first goal in the 2-0 win as “dubious” as the reigning Premier League champions eventually found a way through a resolute Toffees defence.

For the first time since August 2022, City failed to register a shot on target in the first half as Sean Dyche’s side put bodies on the line to keep the game goalless.

The second half followed a similar pattern until Erling Haaland’s bulleted first-time strike from a corner broke the deadlock in the 70th minute - but Tarkowski felt it should have been a goal-kick.

A dejected Tarkowski said it was just “something else” to go against Everton.

“Disappointed,” Tarkowski told TNT Sports when asked for his immediate reaction. “I thought we played really well and kept them to very little. I’ve just been told that their first goal was the first shot on target they had so it shows how well we were playing at the time.

“I think the corner they actually get is quite dubious. I still believe it’s probably a goal-kick but once again something else goes against this club so that disappoints and frustrates us.

“And then it’s about trying to stay in the game and I thought we really got into the game in the 80th minute or so, started keeping the ball well and getting into good positions and gave it away sloppily and against players like Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland you’re going to get punished.”

After giving City the lead on his first home start since returning from injury, Haaland put the result beyond doubt, latching onto Kevin de Bruyne’s throughball and brushing aside Jarrad Branthwaite before slotting past Pickford with ease.

It was the Norwegian’s 53rd goal in 52 appearances since joining City from Borussia Dortmund and Tarkowski admitted there is no harder assignment in the Premier League than coming to the Etihad.

“I think when you come here more than anywhere else the minor details really do count,” he added. “Get one wrong and you’re probably going to concede and that’s what happened today.

“We lost Haaland in the box and he finishes and for the second goal, if you give him that space behind he’s going to punish you.

“They dominate the ball so well, they press really well, they are the toughest team to play against by far but we were in the game.

“It’s all about frustrating them and staying in the game and seeing if you can get something and for us we’re good at set-pieces so we wanted to try and take advantage of that but we didn’t even have a corner I don’t think.”

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