trousers

You're assuming Rodriguez had time to assess how close the defender was going to get to him. When someone lunges at you you react instinctively rather than with hindsight.

Except that Crook's premise is incorrect. Admitting the ref got the penalty decision wrong doesn't mean that you have to concede that Rodriguez dived.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21003838 "What a pity Southampton could not retain their credibility by just admitting that the referee got their awarded penalty wrong. But that would mean that Jay Rodriguez had dived and far be it for a football club to ever admit that!"

Shaw in Garth Crook's team of the week... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21003838

How did the media get to know a player won the lottery in the first place?

It would appear Mr Allen has developed a sense of self awareness at last... @pn_neil_allen: 'Dreadful journalism', 'biased hatchet job' and 'ridiculous piece'. As recommended by some on the News website. #Pompey http://t.co/CHYGrFLZ

@DavideAstori: Finalmente siamo tornati alla vittoria..grazie a tutti!!! ??????

^ This

That's the point. Rodriguez didn't know how bad the tackle was going to end up. He simply reacted in case it turned out to be bad.

Indeed, but this 'debate' is over whether Rodriquez was intentionally looking to con the ref or not. I can't recall many on here saying that it was a penalty. Indeed, most of us giving Rodriquez the benefit of the doubt have also indicated the ref got the decision wrong. So, yes, if I were a Villa fan of course I'd be raging that the penalty was given. Doesn't mean I have to vilify Rodriquez at the same time.

Is that a shove on Rodriquez by the defender...?

And some people think that those who didn't think he "cheated" are bonkers...

Indeed....snooker analogy.... Rodriguez did the equivalent of nudging a ball with his sleeve which the referee didn't see. People are comparing that with a player intentionally moving a ball with their hand whilst the referee wasn't looking.

Had one of these 'random film' moments last night as it goes....In Time (Justin Timberlake). A film that will never trouble the Oscar nominations committee but was a decent watch.

Cheers. Didn't realise.

Pope a Catholic?

Maybe they should have gone with Joseph Cala afterall...

That can't be right. The forum thought police have decreed only biased Saints fans would think it was anything other than a blatant penalty seeking dive.

^ This

I can see us beating Chelsea. Dafter things have happened, haven't they?

Are they are laughing stock yet?

Jonathan Pearce (MotD commentator for this game) NOT saying that it was a blatant dive by Rodriquez, just that he went down to avoid contact. I.e. no cheating involved, just poor ref decision

Looked like a shoulder injury?

Nutshell. It wasn't a 'dive' to win a penalty, he was trying to get out of the way of a rash challenge and hitting the deck was perhaps the only way of achieving that.