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Everton striker Oumar Niasse 'conned' referee into penalty call, says Crystal Palace's Scott Dann

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18:  Oumar Niasse of Everton is closed down by Luka Milivojevic of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crysta
Image: Oumar Niasse 'conned' referee for penalty decision, insists Scott Dann

Scott Dann has accused Oumar Niasse of "conning" referee Anthony Taylor to win Everton's penalty in their 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.

Leighton Baines' penalty brought Everton level at 1-1 after Niasse went down inside the Palace area following minimal contact with captain Dann.

Niasse was unpunished for the incident, while he later scored Everton's second equalising goal on the stroke of half-time.

Oumar Niasse is tackled by Jeffrey Schlupp during the contest
Image: Niasse scored Everton's equalising goal for a 2-2 draw

He could yet face retrospective punishment over the incident, even if that will do little to ease Palace's frustration over the two dropped points.

Dann said: "He has conned the referee. I don't like to see people getting punished but also I don't like people diving to win penalties.

"(Niasse) probably knows he has conned them. If there was (contact) it was minimal. I haven't tried to tackle him; he has gone past me and you can see on the replays he has dived.

"At half-time, (Taylor) probably knew he made the wrong decision."

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Did Niasse dive?

In addition to winning Everton's penalty and scoring their second goal, Niasse produced an aggressive display to continue reviving his career having retained his place while Wayne Rooney was dropped.

The 27-year-old's emergence comes after he long appeared to have no future under the sacked Ronald Koeman, and also after he came close to joining Palace on loan during the summer transfer window.

"People were saying that I fell down easily," said the Senegalese forward. "I don't know. I didn't see the video again. To get into the box, I tried to dribble the guy; he was coming into contact.

"When I felt the contact, I knew then he pushed me away.

Wilfried Zaha reacts to a missed opportunity against Everton
Image: Palace remain bottle of the Premier League table following the draw

"The contact was on my upper body but when I felt the contact I was in the box so that is it: that is all I have to do, go on the floor. It was because I was running so quick.

"I will be shocked [if I am charged with diving] because there is contact."

Looking back at how close he came to joining Palace, Niasse added: "I was about to come here and at the end it did not happen because they know exactly what happened.

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"I am not going to go deep inside of what exactly happened. They know.

"I am happy at Everton. That is it. I moved to come to Palace with the medical check and everything and if that didn't happen you have to understand."

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