Alli: We proved we’re not a one-man team
Cook’s save of the season was pure ‘madness’
STEVE COOK’S flying save may have been amazing but it was “a moment of madness” which backfired.
So said team-mate Dan Gosling after another Bournemouth defeat.
Defender Cook somehow got a hand to Ondrej Duda’s goal-bound missile when last man. But he was sent off and
Norwich’s Teemu Pukki duly scored his 10th of the season from the penalty spot.
Midfielder Gosling said: “Steve’s apologised. That’s all you can do. They’re only words but he’s really apologetic, sad and feels like he let everyone down. It was only parry Mee’s header from Dwight McNeil’s excellent delivery andWood pounced.
Barnes then outpaced Mee again and the Clarets defender bundled him over for a penalty.
Vardy stepped up and Rodgers held his arms aloft in anticipation of the ball hitting the back of the net, only for Pope to dive brilliantly to save it. It was Vardy’s first missed penalty in nearly a year.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche was pleased with his keeper, saying: “He was very good again, not because he made a ridiculous amount of saves, but because – when he needed to – he made big saves just by standing tall.”
BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope 8; Bardsley 7, Tarkowski 6, Mee 6, Taylor 7; Hendrick 5, Westwood 7, Cork 6, McNeil 6; Rodriguez 6, Wood 7 (Lennon 90). Goals: Wood 56, Westwood 79.
(4-1-4-1): Schmeichel 6; Pereira 6, Evans 6, Soyuncu 6, Fuchs 6; Mendy 7; Perez 6 (Iheanacho 74), Praet 7 (Tielemans 74), Maddison 6, Barnes 8; Vardy 6. Goal: Barnes 33. a moment of madness. In hindsight you may have let it go in because it was going in and it’s 1-0 and we’ve still got 11 men for an hour.
“But he probably did it instinctively. You’re never going to get away with it.”
Norwich also finished with 10 men after Ben Godfrey’s 76th-minute challenge on
Callum Wilson saw referee Paul Tierney consult the pitchside monitor before showing red.
Gosling felt the referee’s hesitation did not help as a melee ensued.
“It was clear and obvious and should have been dealt with much quicker,” he said.
DELE ALLI is honest enough to admit that Tottenham are missing Harry Kane after their goalless 2020 in the Premier League dragged on for another 90 minutes at Watford.
Just do not accuse them of being a one-man team.
Because although Jose Mourinho’s side have not found the back of the net since their talisman limped off with a hamstring injury during the clash with Southampton on New Year’s Day, Alli is convinced they can once again make do without him.
“Yeah, it’s inevitable that people start saying we are a one-man team,” said Alli, above.
“Those people always have a short-term memory. Look at when he got injured last time. Look what we did without him.We proved it’s about the team, not one player. “Harry is a fantastic player and he would be a miss to anyone. We have to just keep working hard and get the points.” Only a last-gasp, injury-time clearance by Watford debutant Ignacio Pussetto stopped Erik Lamela snatching the points, after Spurs goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga’s 70th-minute penalty save from Troy Deeney.