Garner should have been sent off against Villa - panel

James Garner should have been sent off in Everton's 1-0 win at Aston Villa on 18 January, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has said.

Garner, who was already on a caution, chased Morgan Rogers from midfield and pushed the Villa player in the back as he reached the edge of the penalty area.

Referee Tony Harrington did not award a free-kick but the KMI Panel unanimously voted that a foul should have been given and Garner shown a second yellow card.

It said Garner's actions were "a clear two-handed push into the back" which warranted "a second caution for a clear tactical foul".

The incident came in the 57th minute and Everton scored the only goal of the game two minutes later through Thierno Barry.

It is the second time in a matter of weeks that Villa have lost a game where their opponents should have been reduced to 10 men.

The KMI Panel also said that Arsenal's Mikel Merino should have received two bookings in Villa's 4-1 loss at the Emirates on 30 December.

The decision to rule out Jake O'Brien's goal against Villa for an offside offence by Harrison Armstrong was supported, 4:1.

Armstrong had jumped to try to head the ball but failed to make contact, with the assistant raising his flag to disallow it.

The KMI Panel said that "Armstrong is close to the ball and clearly impacts an opponent".