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Ashley Cole has reacted angrily to claims that he "cheated" to get Aliou Cisse sent off during yesterday's 2-0 win against Birmingham.
Cole was heavily criticised by David O'Leary after the game and has been the subject of several uncomplimentary back page headlines today.
Speaking in the Evening Standard Cole said: " I do not dive. I am not a cheat and I had never tried to get another player sent off. Never."
Interestingly Cole has been involved in six of the last 10 incidents which have led to opponents being sent off against Arsenal in the Premiership.
Rupe adds...
It's worth pointing out that Cisse himsefl has been quoted as saying, "I am certain
that there is no way that Ashley Cole dived to try to get me sent off. He
jumped to avoid my challenge, that was all. I do not blame Cole. He was only
trying to get out of my way."
City boss Steve Bruce also said some reasonable things after the
game. So it appears that Cole is largely the victim of his
reputation in this instance. Whether that reputation is deserved
or not, one can't help feeling it would help his image if he
now pleaded for his opponent with the ref once or twice in such occasions. Or do we care about the image?
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