Watford captain Troy Deeney has hit out at the Tottenham Hostpur players for crowding and attempting to influence the referee after Nathan Aké's challenge on Erik Lamela - a tackle that resulted in the Chelsea loanee being shown a straight red card from Anthony Taylor.
As per reports in the Mirror, Deeney has claimed that the Spurs players were "screaming" at the referee to get Aké removed from the pitch during Watford's game against Tottenham on Monday, after the on-loan Chelsea defender's nasty-looking challenge on Lamela with much of the second half left to play.
A reaction too far?
The game was a fiesty affair with much to play for, but Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham side eventually ran out 2-1 winners thanks to a late winner from Heung Min-Son's headed strike, boosting the north London club up to third place in the Premier League - thus tightening their grip on a Champions League place.
"It's frustrating to see 10 people running around the referee"
- Troy Deeney
Despite retrospective camera angles showing that the red card was deserved, Deeney has hit out at the way in which the Tottenham players conducted themselves, telling the press he was "frustrated" at "10 people running around the referee" and "screaming" for the red card.
Perhaps a little bitterly, the Hornets' captain went on to say that his side are still perceieved as "little Watford", and that they should be given more credit for an incredible first half of the season which has seen them reach the dizzy heights of ninth place.
Little Watford
Deeney went on to describe the idea of Watford being seen as "little", as "quite cute". Quite rightly, and rather modestly, the Watford captain thinks his side have "held [their] own" and "shaken up the league", pointing at Leicester City's remarkable exploits as probably the main reason why the Hornets have not been given more credit for their performances.
Still, Deeney insists Watford are happy to sit "lowish under the radar", and manager Quique Sanchez Flores has already said his side are ambitious and excited for more. It's safe to say that if the Hornets continue their excellent performances this season, they won't be flying under the radar for much longer.
