Tony Pulis: "I didn't call Alexis Sanchez a cheat"

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 29 September 2017

Tony Pulis remains upset that certain big decisions went against West Bromwich Albion in their meeting with Arsenal, but he is now keen to turn his focus to Watford.

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis has denied branding Alexis Sanchez a cheat, but stands by his claim that the Arsenal forward dived to win a free kick.

The Baggies fell to a 2-0 loss at the Emirates Stadium earlier this week on an evening that saw the big calls go against them.

Pulis felt that Jay Rodriguez should have been awarded a penalty by referee Bobby Madley after being brought down by Shkodran Mustafi, while also hitting out at Sanchez for perceived simulation on the edge of the 18-yard box.

Clarifying his remarks four days on from the incident, Pulis told reporters: "I didn't call [Sanchez] a cheat - I said the incident was cheating. Simulation is cheating, whoever does it. In the modern game, with the players technically so good and the ball so light, free kicks around the edge of the box are almost as dangerous as penalties.

"Referees and officials should take that into consideration. Giving free kicks in those areas have to be absolutely spot on. They talk about being correct with penalty decisions, that it's a 100 per cent call; anything around the box that they're not sure on, they shouldn't give.

"I was disappointed [after the Arsenal defeat] but that game has moved on now. I'm more concerned about Watford, the form they're in, and what we need to do on Saturday."

West Brom are 12th in the Premier League table ahead of the visit of Watford this weekend, having collected eight points from their first six games.