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Top pundits have their say on first red card of Cumbrian star's career

Branthwaite was sent off against Brentford (photo: PA)
Branthwaite was sent off against Brentford (photo: PA)

Jamie Carragher says Jordan Pickford could have spared Jarrad Branthwaite the first red card of his career.

The young Cumbrian defender will be suspended for Everton's remaining Premier League games after being sent off in the 3-2 defeat to Brentford.

It came after the 19-year-old former Carlisle United star fouled Ivan Toney when the Bees frontman was through on goal after just 18 minutes of Sunday's game.

Sky Sports pundit Carragher agreed that Branthwaite was caught out in the incident - but says goalkeeper Pickford could have dealt with things before they had reached that stage.

Speaking on Sky, the former Liverpool and England defender said: “Jordan Pickford for me is not brave enough. When you’re playing that high your goalkeeper’s got to be brave as well.

“I think the top goalkeepers in this country deal with this, and they’re aggressive, and they’re coming out to stop this.

“As soon as the ball’s played he just retreats and he goes back.

“Yes Branthwaite’s been caught - he didn’t get back quick enough - but Jordan Pickford should have been more aggressive to deal with it.”

Branthwaite was dismissed by ref Michael Oliver in what was his seventh first-team appearance of the campaign.

He must now sit out the Toffees' next game against Crystal Palace as Frank Lampard's side look to safeguard their top-flight status.

Graeme Souness, meanwhile, also had his say on the incident which saw Branthwaite red-carded in the Premier League encounter.

Also speaking on Sky, Souness said: "Branthwaite just has to let him go because he [Toney] has just got the wrong side of him.

"He has to let him go because he risks everything and that’s exactly what panned out. It cost him a red card.”

The England Under-20 international was making his first appearance for over a month, and his third Premier League start of the season, in the Brentford clash at Goodison Park.

READ MORE: Cumbrian star Jarrad Branthwaite suffers first red card of career in Everton defeat to Brentford