April 19 2005

Iain Dowie

Iain Dowie has slammed critics who claim Andy Johnson is a diver.

Johnson came under fire from sections of the media who reckon he fell to ground too easily in Saturday's clash at home to Norwich.

Johnson converted a penalty in the 83rd minute to earn Palace a 3-3 draw at Selhurst Park. But Dowie says his side were denied blatant penalties earlier in the game.

"I pick up the media on the weekend and Andy Johnson's heavily attacked," said Dowie. "This needs to be put right. Anyone who wants to can come and sit with me and watch the video.

"Tell me the first penalty incident is not a blatant penalty. The last penalty was absolutely a penalty - he nearly took his head off. Look at the graze on the side of his head when he hits the ground.

"The one where the fella bumps him off is a penalty too, throw in the handball and [Dougie Freedman's] one and we could have had five penalties.

"We got one from five and people are saying Andy goes down easily. He does not dive.

"I don't know why someone wants to have a go at a young English player who has emerged from the lower leagues.

"He is a credit to his profession, he never speaks a moment out of turn and he doesn't dive and doesn't go down.

"Because people perceive it (like that) and get penalties against them they want to say that.

"To be fair Nigel [Worthington, Norwich manager] didn't say it but people are reading Andy goes down in the papers.

"They are blatant penalties. He runs at, I don't know, 100 miles per hour at defenders nicks it by them, and they make stupid challenges. It's not our fault.

"Ask any of the players. He's the most honest player there is. We don't have divers or cheats at my club."