He was out to get me!
<M<IP B@:B# <M<IP >F8C# <M<IP >8D<# KNOCK FURY OVER THIS
ANGRY Anthony Knockaert claims Miguel Britos deliberately tried to injure him with a horror tackle.
Britos was sent off after 24 minutes for a studs-up, knee-high lunge at the Brighton star which could have put him in hospital.
In the end Knockaert, who has history with Watford, played on but paid tribute to referee Graham Scott for punishing the most violent challenge he has ever suffered.
He said: “That was definitely the worst by far that I’ve ever had.
“It’s important that referees protect players from bad tackles, and I thank the referee for taking the right action. It was obviously a bad challenge and the ref made the right decision.
“It’s the sort of tackle you don’t want to see in football.
“I’m fortunate that I was able to carry on. I could see it coming – he came in literally to do a bad challenge and the first thing I tried to do was to avoid it, but I couldn’t get out of the way.”
Britos could even face an extended ban if the FA deem his tackle bad enough to warrant more than a three-match suspension. But it didn’t stop bitter Hornets fans from booing Knockaert.
Efforts
The French winger remains public enemy No. 1 after diving to win an injury-time penalty in Leicester’s play-off semi-final win in 2013.
“They knew it was not a good challenge,” he says.
Despite being down to 10-men for 66 minutes, Brighton still couldn’t score and only managed two shots on target, making it 270 minutes without a Premier League goal.
They did hit the post twice, but will now put all their efforts into trying to sign two strikers before the deadline, one of them Everton’s Omar Niasse on loan, with Glenn Murray still out injured.
Hornets boss Marco Silva, who is hopeful of landing Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs this week, said: “It was not the right reaction from Britos.
“To keep your emotional balance is WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Gomes 6; Femenia 6, PRODL 7, Kabasele 3; 6, Britos Doucoure 6, Chalobah 6; Amrabat 5 (Cathcart 28, 6, Carrillo 48, 6), Cleverley 6, Richarlison 6; Gray 5 (Deeney 83).Subs: Pantilimon, Success, Watson, Capoue. UP NEXT: Southampton (a), Premier League, Saturday September 9. BRIGHTON (4-4-2): Ryan 6; Bruno 5 (Rosenior 46, 6), Duffy 6, Dunk 6, Suttner 6; KNOCKAERT 7 (Izquierdo 81), Stephens 6, Propper 6, March 6; Hemed 6, Gross 6 (Murphy 90) Subs: Maenpaa, Hunemeier, Skalak, Murphy. UP NEXT: West Brom (h), Premier Saturday League, September 9. REFEREE: Graham Scott 7. YOUR TURN: Which Seagulls defender scored their equaliser on their last visit to Watford, a 1-1 draw in the Championship in October 2014? what I want from him and the team and I already spoke with him. It’s a moment to look forward and try not to happen again.
“Will I forgive him? You need to wait and see.”