Everton 2 Hull City 1: Tigers chief Bruce left seething as Barry escapes punishment

After fortuitous penalty awards versus the Canaries and the Hammers helped serve up victories that caused considerable anger and pain for Messrs Hughton and Allardyce, left furious with the decision-making of Mike Jones and Kevin Friend, respectively, this time around it was the Tigers chief who had cause to feel considerably aggrieved with the man in the middle.

Happy to claim the luck on the aforesaid occasions, Saturday represented the flipside for Bruce.

He was spitting feathers after the final whistle at the failure of Preston official Neil Swarbrick to dismiss home midfielder Gareth Barry after two poor first-half challenges which left one Hull player stretchered off and another lucky to escape suffering a serious injury.

To add to Bruce’s ire was the fact that Barry was heavily involved in Everton’s dodgy eighth-minute opener – a low daisy-cutter from Kevin Mirallas which seemed to take a slight touch off the England international, standing in an offside position, before nestling in the net.

It was one of those days for Bruce, anxiously waiting the results of a scan regarding Danny Graham, left writhing in agony ahead of being carried off with a knee injury following a high challenge from Barry on 15 minutes which did not even warrant a caution.

If that was a clumsy tackle, Barry’s second on the half-hour mark was downright reckless on Sone Aluko, which could and perhaps should have yielded an instant red card rather than the yellow which was brandished.

Reflecting on a controversial afternoon, Bruce, whose major positive saw summer signing Yannick Sagbo crown a vibrant performance with his first goal in amber and black, said: “I hate coming in front of the media and complaining about referees, but it wasn’t good enough.

“The big issue I’ve got is with the Gareth Barry tackle (on Aluko). It’s a horrific challenge when you look at it.

“It’s out there for everyone to see and he’s got away with it. We feel aggrieved, no question about it.

“When you see the pictures of the Aluko challenge, it’s horror stuff. It’s over the top of the ball and it’s halfway up his shin.

“As well as the challenge on Aluko, Barry was stood in an offside position for the first goal. He’s wheeling away like he’s touched it, but even if he hasn’t he’s surely interfering.

“When you come to a place like Goodison Park, you need the officials to do their jobs like I’ve asked my players to do theirs. Those two decisions have ultimately cost us the game.”

Saturday was billed as Retro Day by the hosts, with the day taking on a nostalgic theme, right from the old-style match programme to the players being introduced on the big screens as Subbuteo figures. We even had World Cup winning heroes Sir Geoff Hurst and Ray Wilson appearing on the pitch at half-time with the orange ball used in the 1966 final.

No Russian linesman maybe, but controversy nevertheless.

Unfortunately, the retro feel could not inspire Hull to a first win on the blue side of Merseyside since August, 1952 with another replacement, Steven Pienaar, playing the decisive hand 10 seconds after coming on.

His classy and instinctive low finish in the 57th minute settled the issue shortly after Jake Livermore fired Hull’s best second-half chance wide.

The Tigers were given raucous backing throughout by their 2,200 travelling army, many of whom travelled on a fleet of 28 coaches laid on free by the club.

The fact Hull were disappointed not to take something against their hosts, who have not been beaten in the league at Goodison in 2013, is a barometer of their progress after another game and enterprising showing.

Putting the main talking points regarding Barry to one side, the game proved a bit of tale of two substitutes with Sagbo’s deadly finish on the half-hour, 15 minutes after entering the fray for the unfortunate Graham, enabling the Frenchman to see his name in lights for the right reasons.

Sagbo benefitted from excellent work from Aluko, who outwitted Leighton Baines before cutting the ball back to Sagbo, who lashed the ball high past Tim Howard. It went some way to atoning for a daft dismissal against Norwich.

Hoping the goal is a precursor to better times, Sagbo said: “I was really happy for scoring. But we lost, which is disappointing.

“We were unlucky. I think we played very well and could have maybe got something.

“I feel pleased to score for the Hull City fans and, hopefully, I can score again next week at Tottenham. Norwich was very difficult and I got a red card. But I have worked hard (since) and played and now I am happy. I am proud.”

On Sagbo and his side’s display, Bruce added: “He’s had to wait patiently since his red card, but I thought he took his goal exceptionally well. We’ve not seen a lot of him and he’s had to bide his time, but he’s clearly a good player.

“We hope he can adapt his game quickly, but this was a big step in the right direction. Getting a goal should do him the world of good, it lifts any striker.”

Everton: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Mirallas, McCarthy, Barry, Osman (Pienaar 56), Barkley (Naismith 80), Lukaku (Kone 68). Unused substitutes: Robles, Jelavic, Deulofeu, Stones.

Hull City: McGregor, Rosenior (Boyd 66), Faye, Davies, Figueroa, Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Livermore, Brady, Aluko (Quinn 74), Graham (Sagbo 16). Unused substitutes: Harper, Bruce, McShane, Meyler.

Referee: N Swarbrick (Preston).