Jack Grealish’s disgusted reaction spoke volumes as Everton endure another Craig Pawson nightmare
Jack Grealish’s Frustration Boils Over in Everton’s 3-0 Loss to Tottenham
Jack Grealish’s visible disgust encapsulated Everton’s frustration during their 3-0 Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 26, 2025, as referee Craig Pawson’s decisions fueled another controversial night for the Toffees. The Manchester City loanee, pivotal in Everton’s attack, was left stunned by a series of calls, including a disallowed goal and unpunished fouls, in a match where Tottenham’s set-piece prowess ended Everton’s unbeaten home record. Grealish’s reaction—highlighted by a yellow card for protesting a cynical foul—underscored a broader sense of injustice, as manager David Moyes and fans alike questioned Pawson’s officiating.
The Match: Tottenham’s Set-Piece Masterclass
Tottenham took the lead in the 19th minute when Micky van de Ven headed in a Rodrigo Bentancur corner, the first set-piece goal Everton conceded in the league this season. Everton thought they had equalized five minutes later through Jake O’Brien’s header off Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s corner, but VAR Stuart Attwell prompted Pawson to review, ruling it out for offside interference by Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye on Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. The call, announced over the stadium’s PA system, drew boos from the 52,769-strong crowd. Van de Ven’s second header in stoppage time (outmuscling Jordan Pickford) and Pape Matar Sarr’s late third (89th minute) sealed a 3-0 rout, despite Everton’s 52% possession and 12 shots.
Grealish, a bright spark, created four key passes and won 8/13 duels but was booked in the 70th minute for protesting after Bentancur’s unpunished foul halted a counter-attack. “Jack looked stunned. Disgusted and stunned,” wrote Joe Thomas in the *Liverpool Echo*. The foul, described as cynical, saw Bentancur escape a yellow, while Grealish’s dissent earned one—his second for dissent this season.
| Player | Key Passes | Duels Won | Bookings | Outcome |
|——–|————|———–|———-|———|
| Jack Grealish | 4 | 8/13 (62%) | Yellow (70’) | 3-0 Loss |
| Micky van de Ven | 0 | 5/7 (71%) | None | 2 Goals |
Pawson’s Controversial Night: Everton’s “Nightmare”
Pawson’s decisions—especially the disallowed goal—drew ire. The *Liverpool Echo* called it “another Craig Pawson nightmare,” citing his history with Everton, including a contentious 2024 Chelsea goal disallowance. Gary Neville, on commentary, noted “fear in Pawson’s eyes” as he announced the offside call to jeering fans, though he deemed it correct: “Grealish and Ndiaye were offside, impacting Vicario.” Moyes, however, agreed post-match: “I’ve seen it—it’s offside. If it was against us, I’d claim it too” (*Everton News*). Fans disagreed, with X posts under #PawsonNightmare raging: “Pawson’s robbed us again—Grealish’s face said it all” (150k likes).
Another flashpoint was van de Ven’s second goal, where fans and Pickford protested a push on the goalkeeper. Neville called it “debatable,” but Moyes accepted the call, focusing on Everton’s missed chances (e.g., Beto’s early miss).
Grealish’s Reaction: A Symbol of Everton’s Fight
Grealish’s “disgusted” reaction—head in hands, shouting at Pawson—mirrored Everton’s broader frustration. His booking for dissent followed a pattern, as seen in his Merseyside derby rant against Darren England for a “quick free-kick” yellow to Dewsbury-Hall (*The Mirror*, *The Independent*). “Jack’s anger reflects how much these moments matter,” said analyst John William (*FootballPlace*). Despite the loss, Grealish’s energy (4 key passes, 62% duel success) showed his revival under Moyes, who has “made him love football again” (*The Telegraph*).
Everton’s Referee Woes: A Pattern?
Everton’s 2025 has been plagued by officiating controversies: penalties in opening losses to Leeds and Brighton, Dewsbury-Hall’s derby booking, and a missed simulation call vs. Wolves (*Goodison News*). Pawson’s UEFA demotion to the Second list in 2024 (*Daily Mail*) fueled fan distrust, with X posts screaming: “Pawson’s a joke—Grealish’s reaction is us all” (100k retweets).
| Match | Controversy | Referee | Outcome |
|——-|————-|———|———|
| Everton vs. Tottenham (10/26/25) | Disallowed goal; unpunished fouls | Craig Pawson | 3-0 Loss |
| Liverpool vs. Everton (9/20/25) | Quick free-kick booking | Darren England | 2-1 Loss |
| Wolves vs. Everton (9/25/25) | Missed simulation call | Craig Pawson | Carabao Cup Loss |
Reactions: “Grealish’s Face Said It All”
Social media erupted: “Jack’s disgust is every Everton fan—Pawson’s a nightmare” (*@EFCFans*, 120k likes). Neville: “Tough call, but right—Jack’s passion’s unreal.” Moyes: “We didn’t lose because of refs—Beto’s miss hurt more.” Littler, a Toffees fan, posted: “Grealish fought; Pawson didn’t” (*@LukeLittler180*).
Grealish’s reaction isn’t just anger—it’s Everton’s heart. The “nightmare” isn’t over, but his fight fuels hope. Next up: West Ham, September 29.[](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/everton-jack-grealish-craig-pawson-32751767)[](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/david-moyes-craig-pawson-everton-32751788)[](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/breaking-premier-league-var-everton-32753154)
