Hodgson defends Sakho after Palace pay the penalty
Roy Hodgson insisted Mamadou sakho had unintentionally elbowed Jefferson Lerma when conceding the penalty that cost Crystal Palace a point in last night’s defeat at Bournemouth. Patrick van Aanholt’s equaliser, scored from an offside position, had drawn Palace level until the 87th minute, when sakho’s reckless action left referee Mike dean with no option but to award a penalty, while the defender was perhaps fortunate to only receive a booking. The hosts’ substitute Junior stanislas capitalised by scoring his first Premier League goal since his return from a six-month absence with a knee injury, consigning Palace to a fourth defeat from seven. Hodgson said: ‘The ball is hit into a crowded area and the referee blew his whistle. We didn’t have a clue what had happened at the time. ‘Mamadou sakho has no intention to elbow the player or use an elbow to stop the player getting to the ball. ‘I can’t deny that, when you see it on the television, he does catch the player and as a result the referee is quite within his rights to give the penalty. ‘It’s always frustrating losing to a needless free-kick given away (by Alexander sorloth, just before the penalty), and then to a penalty. ‘We paid a high price for the mistakes we made.’ The victory takes Bournemouth, who opened the scoring thanks to david Brooks’ first goal for the club after five minutes, up to seventh — six places above Palace. Boss Eddie Howe hailed the impact stanislas made only three minutes after coming on as a substitute Howe said: ‘I’m really pleased. It was a very tough moment for him. ‘He had not touched the ball. He is the penalty taker and grabbed the ball. But it’s not easy to get the composure to take the penalty.’ Praising Brooks following his £10million transfer from sheffield United, Howe added: ‘He has outstanding technical qualities. He’s a goalscorer in waiting.’