Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti says Lucas Digne's red card against Southampton may have been influenced by the fallout from Jordan Pickford's challenge on Virgil van Dijk.
Everton suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Saints, going down 2-0 at St. Mary's on Sunday afternoon.
James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams were on target for the home side in the first half, and to make matters worse for Ancelotti's side, Digne was sent off in the second half.
Everton went into the game with 13 points from their first five games but they struggled without captain Seamus Coleman and the suspended Richarlison.
Even the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin managed just two touches in Southampton's penalty area as his team-mates struggled to provide adequate service.
Ancelotti did not think Digne should have been shown a straight red card for his challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters. The Everton boss believed his side were punished for events in the Merseyside derby last weekend.
Asked about the red card, Ancelotti said: "I think it was a joke, the red card because it was not intentional. Maybe it could be yellow but for sure was not violent conduct.
"Maybe all the rumours all week against Pickford, against Richarlison, affected the decision and if it is like this it's not right, it's not fair.
"We are going to appeal for sure."
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