Allardyce Leaps To Davies Defence

By Mark Heys
March 27 2006

Sam Allardyce has leap to the defence of striker Kevin Davies following an incident during yesterday's 4-3 defeat at Middlesbrough.

Boro wing back Emmanuel Pogatetz reacted angrily to a challenge by Davies late on in the game and the hostilities carried on after the final whistle but Allardyce says his player was completely blameless in the incident.

"It was a complete accident on Kevin's part. Pogatetz lost his cool but Kevin Davies has nothing to defend. He was blameless."

Opposite number Steve McClaren also admitted that the Austrian showed a degree of over reaction in the incident and urged his player to learn to keep his cool in the future.

"I don't think Pog was too pleased but it was a nasty clash. These things happen in football, though. Pog was incensed when he saw all of the blood and, after that, there was an over-reaction on his part."

"That behaviour is something that he has to curb"