Palace boss rages at Harry Hornet
SAM ALLARDYCE called for the FA to intervene after Wilfried Zaha was mocked by Watford mascot Harry the Hornet for falling down.
Winger Zaha, booked for diving in the 87th minute after ref Mark Clattenburg ignored his penalty appeal, reacted furiously to the furry cheerleader’s comedy dive under his nose at full-time.
He was ushered down the tunnel by Palace backroom staff but Allardyce – making his return to football after being sacked by England – was not amused.
He was already upset after Palace failed to build on Yohan Cabaye’s opener – with Christian Benteke missing a penalty before Troy Deeney scored one for Watford to level things up.
So watching Zaha being mocked by a man who dresses up as an insect and bangs a drum every fortnight just added to Allardyce’s ire.
He said: “The Premier League and the FA can look at that and do what they want to do.
“It could have made the wrong reaction, as we know, but I’m more concerned about my team and their overall performance.
“I’m more disappointed that we picked up four bookings and didn’t get two penalties.”
Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri saw the lighter side of the mascot’s jolly jape and said: “Let’s all laugh together about this.
“Everything in football does not have to be a drama.”
Allardyce has bigger problems than Zaha’s furry nemesis – like whether his tumbledown winger is off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast next month or whether he will heed Gareth Southgate’s appeal to remain English. Zaha, who has made two friendly appearances for England, has lodged paperwork with FIFA to switch allegiance to the country of his birth. And Big Sam said: “I haven’t been here long enough to sit down with Wilf. “It has only just popped up today he might be going to the Africa Cup of Nations. “We’ll have to find out next week but it would be a massive blow if he goes to join the Ivory Coast.”