Dracula Defoe
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Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe landed himself in a biting controversy in yesterday's 1-0 win over West Ham.
Spurs head coach Martin Jol played down suggestions that Defoe had bitten Javier Mascherano after a first-half goal from Mido left West Ham in a deepening crisis near the foot of the Barclays Premiership table.
Mascherano hauled down Defoe towards the end of the first half and the Spurs striker reacted by appearing to bite the West Ham midfielder on the arm.
But Jol claimed it was nothing more than "nibbling" on Defoe's behalf and said his actions would have left no marks on the Argentinian.
Jol said: "He was nibbling his arm - there will be no mark. Ask Mascherano if he has got a mark.
"It is part of the game. They kicked him three times from behind in 10 minutes and he wanted to show his frustration in a nice, comical way."
West Ham boss Alan Pardew claimed he had not seen Defoe bite Mascherano but admitted that the former West Ham player was lucky to have remained on the pitch if that was the case.
Pardew said: "Mascherano brought him down from behind and that was definitely a booking. I didn't quite see the reaction from Jermain but it looked like he gestured towards Mascherano but whether there was any contact I don't know.
"In today's game he could have gone. If he was sent off there, it would have changed the game."
Spurs head coach Martin Jol played down suggestions that Defoe had bitten Javier Mascherano after a first-half goal from Mido left West Ham in a deepening crisis near the foot of the Barclays Premiership table.
Mascherano hauled down Defoe towards the end of the first half and the Spurs striker reacted by appearing to bite the West Ham midfielder on the arm.
But Jol claimed it was nothing more than "nibbling" on Defoe's behalf and said his actions would have left no marks on the Argentinian.
Jol said: "He was nibbling his arm - there will be no mark. Ask Mascherano if he has got a mark.
"It is part of the game. They kicked him three times from behind in 10 minutes and he wanted to show his frustration in a nice, comical way."
West Ham boss Alan Pardew claimed he had not seen Defoe bite Mascherano but admitted that the former West Ham player was lucky to have remained on the pitch if that was the case.
Pardew said: "Mascherano brought him down from behind and that was definitely a booking. I didn't quite see the reaction from Jermain but it looked like he gestured towards Mascherano but whether there was any contact I don't know.
"In today's game he could have gone. If he was sent off there, it would have changed the game."
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