Former Tottenham team-mates Eric Dier and Matt Doherty trade social media jabs as the Wolves defender insists his challenge on Ollie Watkins was ‘never’ a penalty in 1-1 draw with Aston Villa
- Eric Dier and Matt Doherty played 47 times together while at Tottenham Hotspur
- Ollie Watkins went down under minimal contact late in the game on Sunday
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Tottenham defender Eric Dier and former team-mate Matt Doherty have been trading one-word blows on social media after the latter gave away a penalty in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.
Wolves took the lead against their local rivals at Molineux through Hwang Hee-chan’s 53rd-minute strike, only for Pau Torres to level two minutes later, with the 10-man hosts holding on for a point after Mario Lemina’s dismissal.
Late in the game, though, Unai Emery’s Villa almost had a chance to level from the spot, after Ollie Watkins went down under contact from Doherty, although the Republic of Ireland defender was convinced there was no foul.
Doherty does clearly have his hand in the back of the English striker, although the contact is minimal, hence the player’s refusal to accept it should have been a penalty.
Dier was quick to have his say on his former team-mate’s antics, arguing to the contrary on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Doherty was adamant that the contact on Ollie Watkins was not enough to warrant a penalty
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‘Penalty,’ stated Dier, kicking off an exchange of one-word posts, with Doherty writing ‘experience,’ before Dier described it as ‘laziness’.
The incident was later reviewed on Sky Sports’ programme Ref Watch, in which former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher takes a look at contentious decisions.
The ex-referee claimed that the man in the middle on the day – Robert Jones – must have decided that there as not strong enough contact to warrant a penalty being called deep into added time.
The pair spent two-and-a-half seasons together in north London before the right back was allowed to join Atletico Madrid.
After just six months in the Spanish capital Doherty returned to Wolves once again, and has started the season with four Premier League appearances.
In total, they featured in the same side on 47 occasions for Spurs before the Irishman’s eventual departure, at the end of a stint that never quite delivered on the promise he had shown at Wolves.
He has remained a fixture of the Republic of Ireland squads despite comparatively poor club form, and will be part of the group to take on Greece and Gibraltar during the international break.
Watkins will also be hoping for international action after returning to Gareth Southgate’s set up, while Dier remains unconsidered for the games against Australia and Italy.
Doherty and Dier traded one-word blows on social media over the potential foul on Sunday
The duo played 47 times together for Spurs before Doherty left for Atletico Madrid last January
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