"You can't tell me that their boy did not try to do Cleverley."
Wednesday 2 January 2019 23:55, UK
Troy Deeney felt referee David Coote "bottled" at least two decisions in Watford's 3-3 draw with Bournemouth.
Bournemouth twice came from behind to salvage a dramatic draw in a madcap encounter at the Vitality Stadium where four goals were scored in six first-half minutes.
Watford's Abdoulaye Doucoure was lucky to avoid a red card for a nasty tackle on Ryan Fraser, while Danny Gosling was booked for a sliding challenge on second-half substitute Tom Cleverley.
After the game, Deeney criticised Gosling's challenge and felt the referee "bottled it" on more than one occasion. Nathan Ake also appeared to handle the ball in the penalty box in injury time, but referee Coote did not award a spot-kick.
"You can't tell me that their boy did not try to do Cleverley," he said.
"He knows it. They know it hence the reason for the reaction. The referee bottled it on a few occasions.
"There's a handball right at the end with [Nathan] Ake. I'm not one to hammer refs but he bottled it on a few occasions today so both [teams will] feel a player should have been sent off."
Javi Gracia said Gosling should have been sent off too, with the Watford manager left frustrated with a string of decisions from the officials.
Asked if Doucoure was lucky to avoid a red card, Gracia replied: "Yes, but he was the same as Dan Gosling.
"But today the yellow cards were only for us. There were many similar fouls, but the cards were only for us.
"I have never seen a match like that. Six goals in the first half and 3-3, I think the supporters will be happy."
