Peter Crouch Had A Hand In Portsmouth's Win

Two-metre Peter has admitted he could have been pinged for handball just before firing Pompey to victory over the Robins last night.

Jan 14, 2009 12:01:45 AM

More On :  Portsmouth
EPL: Peter Crouch, West Bromwich Albion - Portsmouth (PA)

Peter Crouch opened the scoring at Ashton Gate last night as Portsmouth managed a 2-0 win in their FA Cup third round replay against Bristol City.

But the counter-attack that led to the goal might not have occurred had the referee seen the England striker handle the ball at the other end of the pitch only moments earlier.

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And Crouch has confessed that his paw did indeed deny Bristol's scoring attempt, although he insists it was accidental and undeserving of a penalty. 

“I tried to block the shot and it might have hit my hand. But it certainly wasn’t intentional and it would have been very harsh to give a free-kick,” the former Liverpool man said in The Sun.

The decision would have been especially controversial had Nicky Maynard buried his 89th-minute spot-kick, but David James made sure the Crouch controversy remained academic to the result.

Nevertheless, Bristol boss Gary Johnson was highly unimpressed with the match official: “I am going home to kick the cat. My cat’s name is referee.

“The TV guys asked me straightaway if I wanted to look at a replay because it definitely looked like handball. But I didn’t want to spend the second half ranting and raving and not enjoying the game.

“It’s hard on my lads but these things happen. It’s up to the ref to make those decisions.”

--Mike Maguire, Goal.com

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