Bentekeendsgoal drought and remains defiant over penalty
CRYSTAL Palace striker Christian Benteke insists he has no regrets over his controversial penalty miss.
The forward scored his first goal since May in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Leicester after criticism following a fluffed spot-kick against Bournemouth.
Benteke defied team orders to take a last-minute penalty, ahead of Luka Milivojevic, and saw it saved in the 2-2 draw with the Cherries last weekend.
He came under heavy fire before helping the Eagles to their first away win, and away goals, of the season at Leicester.
“I didn’t feel sorry for anything,” said the Belgium international.
“I just took my responsibilities. I didn’t hide myself, I knew that my time was going to come. I’d been working really hard for the team and I didn’t score. On Saturday I did the same and I’ve got what I deserve.”
Benteke also celebrated his 19th-minute opener by putting his fingers in his ears, a response to the flak he had taken.
“That means I will never give up and I will just keep going on my own,” he added.
The former Liverpool man set up Wilfried Zaha for Palace’s second goal before Wilfred Ndidi was dismissed for the hosts and Bakary Sako made it 3-0 in added time.
And boss Roy Hodgson insisted Palace moved on from the Bournemouth incident quickly but remains frustrated Benteke will be banned against Swansea on Saturday after his fifth booking of the season.
Hodgson said: “He’s always been forgiven. These things happen in football.”
Defeat ended Leicester’s fourmatch winning run and Marc Albrighton revealed Ndidi, who received a second booking for simulation, knew he was wrong.
He said: “I don’t think we can complain. I personally haven’t watched them back but Wilf said he did go down too late..”