Red-card keeper in a wee bit of bother
SALFORD CITY goalkeeper Max Crocombe has apologised after he was sent off for urinating during his team’s 2-1 win at Bradford Park Avenue.
Crocombe was dismissed by the referee towards the end of the National League North match, attended by 533 spectators.
A supporter is also believed to have reported the 24-year-old New Zealander to police.
Crocombe regretted his untimely call of nature and posted on his Twitter page afterwards: “I’d like to sincerely apologise for the incident today.
“I was in a very uncomfortable position and made an error in judgement which spoiled a great win. My intention was never to offend anyone and I’d like to apologise to both clubs and both sets of supporters and it won’t happen again.”
Bradford PA club secretary Colin Barker was unimpressed, saying: “He was told by the steward twice not to do it and he went ahead and had a pee.”
Crocombe’s pitchside comfort break swiftly drew nationwide attention, with Gary Lineker among those reacting. The former England striker accidentally soiled himself on the pitch against the Republic of Ireland at the 1990 World Cup due to a stomach bug.
He made a joke of Crocombe’s conduct and punishment, writing on Twitter: “If that’s true, I’d have been given a lifetime ban for a s***.”
The Etihad boss poured scorn on the comments – made in a French magazine – and branded them “totally unrealistic.”
He said: “You are English, have you ever known a team win the title in January? No. It’s totally unrealistic.”
But it will take something special to overhaul City now. They have picked up 28 points from 10 games and no team has failed to win the league after achieving that.
Guardiola refused to be drawn on when he thought City might clinch the title after their eighth straight league win and 13th in all competitions.
“We want to win against Arsenal in our Premier League game next Sunday and we want to beat Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday,” he said. “Those are our next targets.”
But he insisted his team are in no mood to squander their impressive start which has brought them 35 goals from 10 league matches so far.
Guardiola said: “Our mood is good. We believe we’re going to score goals and concede few. We are able to do that. You see the