The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Another Bale booking takes shine off Spurs win Posted: 29 Dec 2012 07:48 AM PST  Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale reacts after being booked for diving during their English Premier League soccer match against Sunderland in Sunderland, northern England. — Reuters pic In-form Spurs won 2-1 at Sunderland to move third in the Premier League after hammering Aston Villa 4-0 away on Wednesday when the speedy yet skilful Bale netted a majestic hat-trick. The talk after today's deserved victory though was all about diving after he received a third booking in a month for going to ground too easily. It was his fifth domestic yellow card of the season, prompting a ban against Reading on New Year's Day. "It's the same thing every time. I've been booked for no reason again," Bale protested to Sky Sports. According to statisticians Opta, Bale has been given five cautions for simulation in the Premier League since the start of 2011-12, while no other player has more than two in that period. He was booked in Tottenham's 3-0 win at Fulham on December 1 when he tumbled after slight contact by Steve Sidwell having also seen yellow for a dive at home to Liverpool the previous week. Today's booking followed Bale falling in the area after a touch from Craig Gardner, who had his arm across the Welshman and may have clipped his knee. Bale immediately turned to the referee as he lay on the floor but Martin Atkinson had no qualms about reaching for his pocket to the winger's dismay. He feels he is being victimised by officials who do not take into account the speed he runs and denies he is being too theatrical when falling. "There's nothing I can do. The referees just have to look a bit closer I think," he said. "If I am getting contact, it's a free kick or a penalty. If people are kicking me I'm not going to stop going over because it is a foul." Bale's point was backed up by team mate Jermain Defoe avoiding a booking despite an apparently obvious dive. Spurs are emerging as a real force this term thanks to their power and pace on the flanks and dynamism in midfield. They dominated for almost all of the encounter at the Stadium of Light, where a Carlos Cuellar own goal and a simple finish from the superb Aaron Lennon cancelled out John O'Shea's opener. The signs are they will hang on to prize asset Bale in the January transfer window but his reputation as a diver means they could end up missing him for big matches and his value could drop if suitors feel he is tainted. "It is a big mistake from the ref. I understand reputations are created on the outside, in the media. But it is a bit unfair. It looks like persecution," Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas said of the Bale booking despite being thrilled with the performance. "We were very strong mentally second half and got what we deserved. An excellent performance." — Reuters |
| Spurs surge back to win at Sunderland Posted: 29 Dec 2012 06:44 AM PST  Sunderland's Adam Johnson (left) challenges Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale during their English Premier League soccer match in Sunderland, northern England. - Reuters pic The hosts, who beat champions Manchester City 1-0 at home on Wednesday, took the lead against the run of play in the 40th minute when captain John O'Shea coolly tapped in after Spurs had failed to deal with a free-kick into the box. It was the Irishman's first goal for mid-table Sunderland and his first league goal since netting for Manchester United against Stoke City in September 2009 although his game ended early with a hamstring strain. Buoyant Spurs, who thumped Aston Villa 4-0 away on Wednesday, had dominated the opening period with Emmanuel Adebayor hitting the bar from close range but they were level three minutes after the break. Carlos Cuellar headed a corner into his own net after getting in the way of a team mate and another unlucky deflection on 51 minutes presented Aaron Lennon with the chance to make in 2-1. Leaders Manchester United look to extend their seven-point advantage when they host West Bromwich Albion at 1500 GMT while second-placed City, three points above Spurs, travel to Norwich City. Chelsea can reclaim third spot at Everton tomorrow. ― Reuters |
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