---
title: "Everton loanee Jarrad Branthwaite courts controversy after high boot"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/jarrad-branthwaite-criticism-neil-warnock-foul-dael-fry-boro-blackburn/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2021-01-26T06:30:00Z"
modified: "2021-01-26T06:30:00Z"
---

# Everton loanee Jarrad Branthwaite courts controversy after high boot

Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock held nothing back in his criticism of Everton loanee [Jarrad Branthwaite](https://readeverton.com/2021/01/21/jarrad-branthwaite-spoke-to-harvey-elliott-blackburn-loan/) after the 18-year-old’s challenge on a counterpart left him with an eye injury.

[A high boot](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12197848/neil-warnock-fumes-with-officials-after-dael-fry-comes-within-a-quarter-of-an-inch-of-losing-his-eye-after-jarrad-branthwaite-challenge) from the on-loan Blackburn defender caused controversy after Branthwaite’s ‘Boro centre-half counterpart Dael Fry suffered nasty wounds around his eye socket during a challenge in the penalty area.

Middlesbrough’s [official Instagram account](https://www.instagram.com/theboroofficial/?hl=en) shared pictures of the injury to Fry, exacerbating further tensions over the clash during Blackburn’s 1-0 win.

Branthwaite again proved to be a valuable presence for Rovers as they kept another clean sheet in their quest for promotion,but the incident overshadowed his performance.

The 18-year-old has featured in just [two matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jarrad-branthwaite/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/661053/verein/164) for his new club since [joining them on loan](https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2021/january/jarrad-joins-rovers/) this month, helping Tony Mowbray’s side pick up four points since his arrival.

‘Boro manager Warnock [could be heard shouting](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-warnock-branthwaite-ashamed-blackburn-19691395) to the officials after the incident, telling Branthwaite “you should be ashamed” as the 72-year-old made his wrath known.

Conversely, Rovers boss Mowbray was staunch in his defence of the Toffees youngster, adopting a forgiving approach by [saying:](https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/19035532.mowbrays-view-neil-warnock-confronting-jarrad-branthwaite/)

> I know the boy, after working with him for over a week, 10 days, he’s just a boy who is on a journey who can’t believe that he’s played in the Premier League for Everton and now he’s at Blackburn learning his trade.

> He’s just a kid. He has no edge to him. He’s not an angry kid, he’s a skinny boy. I have just seen him with his top off, he’s a skinny, scrawny kid who you could blow over. I don’t think I’d be confronting him really.

### Read Everton Verdict

Aside from some dubious comments on his physique, Mowbray has shown a cool and composed sting in his defence of Everton youngster Branthwaite.

The incident is unfortunate, but it should not concern Everton fans – it may well serve as a learning curve for Branthwaite, but the controversy is wrapped up in the emotions of the game more than anything else.