EVERTON have lodged an appeal over Jack Rodwell’s controversial derby dismissal – with David Moyes expecting referee Martin Atkinson to rescind the red card.

Atkinson outraged Everton by sending-off Rodwell for what appeared a legitimate challenge on Luis Suarez midway through the first half of Saturday’s 216th Merseyside derby at Goodison.

It left Everton with an uphill battle, and although Tim Howard saved Dirk Kuyt’s penalty shortly before half-time, second-half goals from Andy Carroll and Suarez sent Moyes’s men tumbling to a 2-0 defeat.

And the Goodison outfit will now submit written documentation to the Football Association with Rodwell facing a three-match ban that would see the midfielder miss Carling Cup and Premier League clashes against Chelsea and the top-flight trip to Fulham.

Everton chief executive Robert Elstone said: “Following a review of the video evidence we believe the decision to be wrong and we will be contacting the FA requesting that the red card is rescinded.”

Moyes, who believes the early red card “ruined the game”, had intended to resist lodging an appeal with the FA on the premise either the ruling body or Atkinson should own up to a glaring error.

But Everton have been compelled to appeal because the disciplinary process means the authorities can only overturn any refereeing decisions at the request of the aggrieved club.