Saturday 3 December 2016 20:56, UK
Troy Deeney claims James McClean's aggressive style has been "made acceptable" after Watford's defeat to West Brom on Saturday.
McClean came on as a second-half substitute in West Brom's 3-1 victory and was involved in a late bust-up which saw Watford manager Walter Mazzarri go onto the pitch and Roberto Pereyra sent off.
Pereyra appeared to kick out at McClean after the West Brom midfielder kicked the ball at him while he was on the ground, sparking a heated exchange between several players from both sides.
Referee Graham Scott booked McClean for his part, but Watford captain Deeney was aggrieved with the West Brom winger's actions after a challenge on him moments before.
"I didn't see the initial incident so I just went in as captain," said Deeney, who was involved in the aftermath of the sending off. "Obviously McClean, I spoke to him afterwards, he's got that style of tackling which got him in trouble last year.
"A few seconds before he did the same on me, but obviously no big deal made out of it, but then he does it again.
"So that was just my interpretation of it. If you are going to do that, last year he got sent off a few times, this year it's been made to be acceptable.
"I don't think, on the tackle on myself, he went in to hurt me, that's just his style of tackling. But it's just twice in two minutes is a bit interesting from our part."
Mazzarri had pleaded for equal treatment of his players from referees ahead of the fixture, with nine players having been booked for dissent prior to the game, and Deeney was also shown a yellow card for his involvement in the melee after the sending off.
Watford are bottom of the fairplay table but, after falling behind West Brom in the Premier League with the defeat, Mazzarri was unhappy with the officiating.
"From what I've seen, Pereyra was fouled, he was on the floor, and his rival keeps fouling him while he was on the floor," said Mazzarri, through a translator. "He stood up, he gave a small push, and that's when I went to separate them. He was unfairly sent off and of course the game changed from then.
"Between the benches, for me, to be honest, I didn't have any problem. You have to look at the other bench, it was the other person that was protesting throughout the whole game. I didn't have anything to say to the fourth man (official) and when I did I said it in a very good way, as it always should be. So if you want to look at someone you should look at the other person.
"I'm satisfied but I was already from last Sunday that we didn't have a good referee, and unfortunately today the referee conditioned the game, and of course this is something that makes me unhappy. "
West Brom manager Pulis admitted he was "frightened to death" by McClean getting involved in trouble.
"The lad has kicked out, how much he's caught James I don't know, but it's then what James gets up to," said Pulis. "It's just trying to keep him away from anything that can bring controversy towards him."
Asked if McClean needs managing, Pulis replied: "Yeah. As I've said before hes a fantastic lad and he's very well liked in the dressing room by everybody. His attitude is fabulous."
