Dyche slams ‘embarrassing diver’ Depoitre
IT WAS hard to tell the angrier manager after this dramatic draw.
Huddersfield boss David Wagner was seething about a challenge that left his player Christopher Schindler requiring lengthy treatment for a cut head.
While Burnley’s Sean Dyche, a long-time campaigner against diving, was left livid by striker Laurent Depoitre, who was booked trying to con referee Christopher Kavanagh. ‘It was cringeworthy. Embarrassing, absolutely ridiculous,’ said Dyche.
‘A yellow card is not enough because they’ll do it again next week. Give a red card and ban them. There are enough intelligent people who can sit there and decide [the length of punishment].’
Huddersfield battered Burnley in terms of possession, shots on goal and corners but fell behind after 20 minutes when Sam Vokes headed in Johann Gudmundsson’s cross to score in consecutive games for the first time in 14 months.
The visitors missed two sitters through Depoitre but levelled after 66 minutes shortly after the hapless Belgian had been substituted.
Chris Lowe crossed from the right and Schindler ghosted into the box to beat Joe Hart with a back header. It was only the fourth goal Huddersfield have scored in eight games this season but enough to take them off the foot of the table above Cardiff.
Soon after, Schindler was caught around the back of the ear by a flailing elbow from Vokes and needed severe patching up as plenty of blood spilled on the Turf Moor pitch.
This time it was Wagner who was the aggrieved manager. He said: ‘I don’t like to say opponents do this on purpose but he has to be in control. It was ugly and dangerous.’
Dyche pointed out that his side have not had a penalty in 51 matches but his immediate concern is getting rid of diving in the game. ‘Why not send him [Depoitre] off right away? It’s cheating,’ he said, aware that Premier League chief Richard Scudamore was among the spectators.