Damien Delaney has reiterated his belief that his challenge on Christian Benteke did not warrant a penalty, insisting linesman Scott Ledger “could not wait to give” the decision.
Crystal Palace were holding Liverpool to a 1-1 draw on Sunday when Benteke went down in the area in the sixth minute of stoppage time, despite minimal contact with Delaney, before scoring from the resultant penalty.
“It seemed like (Benteke) overran it maybe and went down. I did not feel any contact,” he said.
“There is no way he could have been 100 per cent sure. He gave it so quickly. I looked at it afterwards and he is flagging before he has even hit the ground. It looked like he could not wait to give it. It looked like he wanted to give it.”
Blues must manage their anger – Hiddink
Chelsea must channel their anger properly and focus on being ‘tough underdogs’ when they host Paris St Germain in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie tomorrow, manager Guus Hiddink has said.
The Blues will need to turn around a 2-1 deficit from their first-leg loss at Parc des Princes last month to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
“We are not the favourites. We have regained confidence and have quality but PSG can rest five, six or seven players,” Hiddink told British media.
“But let’s be very tough underdogs. We need to be angry in a controlled way. The players must be fully concentrated.”
McClaren under increasing pressure
Steve McClaren’s future as Newcastle manager will come under renewed scrutiny this week after calls for his dismissal began to mount.
The Magpies are yet to comment on the position of McClaren following Saturday’s abject 3-1 home defeat by Bournemouth.
Former owner Sir John Hall is the latest to call for McClaren to go.
Hall said: “(Owner Mike) Ashley’s got to step back, it’s his responsibility, he has put the cash in, and it hasn’t happened. So he’s got to put a rescue plan in.
“I would be inclined to say to the manager ‘It’s time to go’ and bring somebody else in.”
Wenger not giving up on league title
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is refusing to write off his side’s chances of lifting the Premier League trophy this season after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with rivals Tottenham left them eight points behind leaders Leicester City.
“The championship is far from over,” Wenger said ahead of tonight’s FA Trophy fifth round replay against Hull City (20.45).
“We have beaten twice Leicester. People have to look at the other teams. We will not give up in the championship.
“We will fight until the end.”
Mata keen to learn from red card
Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata said he was keen to learn from his early red card in Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League loss to West Brom.
The Spain international was given his marching orders for the first time in a career in which he has played almost 500 games after he picked up two yellow cards within three first-half minutes.
“As you can imagine, it’s not easy for me to write these lines,” Mata wrote in his blog on the club website.
“The truth is this is a new and strange situation for me, not easy to assimilate, but we learn from everything.”
England FA to offer games for video tests
Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn says the FA would be open to trialling video technology during England games.
The International Football Association Board have given the green light to video trials, with live experiments due to start before the 2017-18 season.
The FA, along with their Scottish counterparts, are supporters of the scheme and 13 countries have offered to help test the technology.
“Possibly, but it would be a UEFA decision,” Glenn said, when asked if England games could be a possible testing ground.
“The whole point of doing it is to avoid there being bad decisions made, so it would have to be at the top end because only at the top end will you have camera systems to make it work. We will definitely offer it.”
Schaaf not worried over Hannover future
Hannover coach Thomas Schaaf says he still expects to see out the remainder of his contract with the Lower Saxony club, even if they are relegated from the Bundesliga.
Schaaf has won one and lost seven of his games since taking over from Michael Frontzeck and the Reds are seven points away from the relegation play-off berth.
“Of course it doesn’t look very good at the moment, but I accepted this challenge with Hannover knowing how big it was, and I’ve tried to change things.
“I’m still trying, and everything is still possible.
“I’m not worried about my reputation. I’m just focused on the challenge.”