Andre Villas-Boas insists Gareth Bale is not a diver and has revealed the Tottenham winger is becoming increasingly frustrated at claims he goes to ground too easily. Gareth Bale was booked for simulation for the second successive match (Picture: Getty) The 23-year-old picked up his second yellow card in two games for simulation in Tottenham’s 3-0 victory at Fulham yesterday, three days after a caution for the same offence against Liverpool. The Welshman sarcastically applauded referee Chris Foy for his decision and Villas-Boas admits the player is annoyed he is developing a reputation for diving. ‘Yes, he is frustrated about it,’ said the Tottenham manager. ‘It is difficult for him, particularly in the last two games. ‘If he has a reputation I think it’s a little bit unfair. The last two have been unfair. ‘I think he uses it as a precaution from different types of challenges. I’m not saying all of the players that challenge Gareth are malicious but the action is so quick that it might look like it’s not a foul while it is.’ Bale’s afternoon went from bad to worse in the second half as he hobbled off with a hamstring injury which will keep him out for the next two weeks. But Villas-Boas is confident Spurs will be able to cope without their star player. ‘Gareth is a very important player for us and he definitely will be missed, but it was good to see Clint Dempsey [filling in for Bale] on the left,’ he said. ‘He changed the range of movements that he does and he got the ball a lot more with more freedom. ‘We are fortunate because after Panathinaikos [in the Europa League] and Everton, the Premier League stops for one week. It will give us time to reassess.’ The victory, which came courtesy of a Jermain Defoe double and Sandro’s strike, sent Spurs fourth in the Premier League.

A news article on 2012-12-02 20:04:00 from: The Metro

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