Digne’s red card was payback for Pickford let-off, says Carlo

CARLO Ancelotti has suggested that his full-back Lucas Digne was given a red card yesterday as punishment for Jordan Pickford not being sent off in last weekend’s Merseyside derby. The Everton manager confirmed the club would appeal against the dismissal of Digne, who clumsily fouled Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters from behind in the 72nd minute at St Mary’s Stadium. Speaking on Sky Sports after yesterday’s 2-0 defeat for his previously unbeaten side, Ancelotti said: ‘The red card was a joke. It was not intentional. ‘Maybe it could be a yellow but, for sure, it was not violent conduct.’ Insinuating that Pickford may have been paying the price following his challenge on Virgil van Dijk which has effectively ruled Liverpool’s star defender out for the rest of the season, Ancelotti (below) added: ‘They could check better. Maybe all the talk all week against Pickford, against Richarlison, affected the decision and, if it is like this, it’s not right, it’s not fair. ‘We will appeal, for sure. ‘He did not have the intention to hurt the player or to use violent conduct. ‘It was not the right decision. To lose Digne for three games is too much. ‘We didn’t complain about Richarlison. But here, we have to appeal because this was not the right decision.’ On the defeat itself, Ancelotti added: ‘We didn’t play well. Southampton were better than us and they deserved to win. ‘But we don’t have to be too disappointed. We are still at the top of the table, which is an unbelievable achievement for us. Now we have to try to stay there.’ Playmaker James Rodriguez looked like he wanted to come off towards the end of the match but Ancelotti had already used all three of his substitutions. The Colombian’s fitness will be checked in the coming days. This victory for Southampton came on the anniversary of their 9-0 home defeat by Leicester City. Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said: ‘We did not talk once this week about losing 9-0. ‘That is a topic for you guys, but it was important what we did after that defeat. Now we don’t even think about it any more. I don’t care.’ Southampton goalscorer James Ward-Prowse added: ‘They came here unbeaten. We were aggressive. We believe in what we are doing and we have the quality to go and score goals. ‘This gives us a lot of confidence. We weren’t really troubled.’