Brentford head coach Thomas Frank was left fuming at Christian Norgaard's red card as Everton failed to take advantage of playing against 10 men for almost an hour in a goalless draw at Goodison Park.
The Bees centre-back was sent off following VAR intervention after catching goalkeeper Jordan Pickford on his knee as he slid in attempting to break the deadlock late in the first half.
Referee Chris Kavanagh did not issue a yellow card or award a foul but was advised to view the pitchside monitor and opted to dismiss the Denmark international.
Brentford's players were furious but Frank took his protestations too far and was cautioned.
In explaining the decision the Premier League Match Centre's X account said: "The VAR deemed that the challenge was serious foul play and recommended an on-field review".
The red card did nothing for the game as goal-shy Everton, struggling to make a breakthrough against a team which at least had some attacking intent, found 10 men even harder to find a way past.
Despite being 15th the Toffees are the third-lowest scorers in the league with 10, with three teams below them in the table managing more goals and this was another example of why.
Ross Barkley headed in a late equaliser as Aston Villa salvaged a 2-2 draw with lowly Crystal Palace on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon at Villa Park.
Ismaila Sarr gave Palace an early lead, Ollie Watkins levelled for Villa who then had a penalty from Youri Tielemans saved by Dean Henderson before Justin Devenny restored Palace's lead in first-half stoppage time.
Barkley grabbed the equaliser in the 77th minute when, with his back to the net, he headed home a corner from close range.
Villa, without a league win since September, are seventh with Palace inside the relegation zone.
Brighton & Hove Albion beat Bournemouth 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium with goals from Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma, while the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Carlos Baleba was sent off in the second half.
Pedro continued his terrific form as the Brazilian put Brighton ahead in the fourth minute, pouncing on a rebound after fellow forward Georginio Rutter's powerful low effort was saved by Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Bournemouth spurned a couple of opportunities and were punished moments after the interval when Japanese winger Mitoma doubled Brighton's lead, slotting into the bottom corner after Pedro's stunning through ball beat the home side's defence.
David Brooks reduced Bournemouth's deficit in injury time and Brighton withstood some more late pressure to seal all three points.
Matheus Cunha's superb double earned Wolves a 4-1 comeback victory at Fulham, extending the visitors' unbeaten run to four games.
Fulham took a deserved lead after 20 minutes with Alex Iwobi curling home an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box, before Cunha equalised 11 minutes later with a calm finish after he beautifully controlled Mario Lamina's ball over the top.
Joao Gomes scored eight minutes after the restart to give the visitors a lead they rarely looked like conceding and Cunha another fine goal in the 87th minute before substitute Goncalo Guedes completed the rout in stoppage time.
Wolves' second league win of the season moves them outside the drop zone, while defeat dropped Fulham to ninth.
