Graham Roberts defends Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli over dive row

Roberts leaps to Alli's defence over diving
© Offside
Graham Roberts defends Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli over his alleged diving antics.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Graham Roberts has claimed that the recent criticism being aimed at Dele Alli is "unfair".

The England international has come under fire for appearing to dive in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

On two occasions - one with Wayne Hennessey and another with Patrick van Aanholt - Alli was accused of going to ground too easily, and it has become somewhat of a pattern.

Alli has been booked twice already this season for simulation, but Roberts has claimed that the furore is unjustified as he believes that other players have not been criticised as heavily.

In a piece for the Daily Mail, the former defender wrote: "No-one said anything when Roberto Firmino took a dive at Southampton, nothing from Gary Lineker or Alan Shearer.

"No-one said anything about Chris Smalling against Newcastle. What was that? That was a 9.5? There's something wrong when big centre-halves are diving around.

"No one said anything about Jack Wilshere and Nacho Monreal diving in the EFL Cup final. I saw those dives on Twitter because I don't watch Arsenal play as a point of principle."

Alli escaped a booking for his antics against Palace.

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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli during his side's Premier League clash with Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on November 28, 2017
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City28243182206275
2Liverpool29179367323560
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd28185553203359
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs29177555243158
5Chelsea28165750252553
6Arsenal28136951391245
7Burnley29101092426-240
8Leicester CityLeicester29910104142-137
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13Swansea CitySwansea2986152542-1730
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2979133654-1830
15Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2986152550-2530
16Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2978142740-1329
17Southampton29513112941-1228
18Crystal Palace2869132543-1827
19Stoke CityStoke2969142854-2627
20West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom29311152243-2120
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