'HANDBAGS'
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JOE ALLEN laughed off his ‘Gougegate’ clash with Troy Deeney — but Watford might not see the funny side.
Hornets bosses are seriously worried the FA could take extra action and ban their skipper.
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They are right to be concerned — Deeney was clearly seen thrusting his thumbs into Allen’s face as tempers boiled over in the closing seconds of a match that had little else in the way of excitement.
Referee Michael Oliver booked both men but Deeney was lucky not to see red.
Midfielder Allen said: “It was handbags really and nothing to it.
“I really like Troy. He is a good guy and a really good player. It was nothing personal.
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“We were clinging on and expecting the ball back. They were chasing the equaliser and decided to play on.
“I’m disappointed to get a yellow because I’m now walking a tightrope. These things happen.
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“He’s a big guy and we were both laughing. I knew I was beaten — I have a bad habit of picking the wrong fights.”
Stoke won it in the 16th minute with Darren Fletcher’s first-time shot.
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Trouble started when Abdoulaye Doucoure and Mame Biram Diouf were booked in the 87th minute for a confrontation.
That set the tone and Allen waded in after City kicked the ball out with Erik Pieters injured, only for Watford to take possession and play on.
The FA can take retrospective action if they deem the incident to be exceptionally bad.
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And the Hornets were particularly dismayed Stoke boss Mark Hughes chose to highlight it.
Their case will be helped by Allen’s admission he started the fight though.
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