MX23RW : Friday, November 22 07:02:35| >> :60:837:837:

Graham Roberts defends Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli over dive row

Graham Roberts defends Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli over his alleged diving antics.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Graham Roberts has claimed that the recent criticism being aimed at Dele Alli is "unfair".

The England international has come under fire for appearing to dive in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

On two occasions - one with Wayne Hennessey and another with Patrick van Aanholt - Alli was accused of going to ground too easily, and it has become somewhat of a pattern.

Alli has been booked twice already this season for simulation, but Roberts has claimed that the furore is unjustified as he believes that other players have not been criticised as heavily.

In a piece for the Daily Mail, the former defender wrote: "No-one said anything when Roberto Firmino took a dive at Southampton, nothing from Gary Lineker or Alan Shearer.

"No-one said anything about Chris Smalling against Newcastle. What was that? That was a 9.5? There's something wrong when big centre-halves are diving around.

"No one said anything about Jack Wilshere and Nacho Monreal diving in the EFL Cup final. I saw those dives on Twitter because I don't watch Arsenal play as a point of principle."

Alli escaped a booking for his antics against Palace.

ID:319636: cacheID:319636:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2985:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli during his side's Premier League clash with Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on November 28, 2017
Read Next:
Pochettino: 'Dele Alli an easy target'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Steelers
@
Browns
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!