Palace boss Holloway: If you call Zaha a cheat, then you call me a cheat (From Croydon Guardian)

Holloway rants at the media and referee over treatment of Zaha

9:16am Wednesday 16th January 2013 in Football By Tim Ashton

Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway slamed the nation's media and the referee after the Eagles were dumped out of the FA Cup at Stoke City.

An understrength Palace pushed their Premier League hosts to extra-time - thanks to Glenn Murray's 23rd goal of the season - only to be over-run 4-1.

However, in the first half of normal time, Wilfried Zaha was booked for diving in the penalty area leading Holloway to slam the treatment dished out to his star winger.

"Wilf's got a knock on his ankle which shows he was caught in the challenge. He's not a cheat, why does everyone think he dives?" Holloway said.

"I see it week in, week out in the Premier League and I hate it. If I think a player of mine has dived then he gets fined a week's wages - but he did not dive.

"I get called a cheat, and that is wrong. Wilf is not a cheat, and nor am I."

He added: "I know referees make mistakes, but it was a clear penalty. He says he had a good view of it, so he should have given it."

Although Zaha is fully expected to face Bolton Wanderers this weekend in the Championship, Holloway claimed the 20-year-old would be out of action for up to six months, and then turned on the nation's media.

"If I say Wilf's out for six months, will that stop you all talking about him? It's never-ending, why don't you get a life?

"I hate the January transfer window because all there is is talk and speculation.

"It doesn't help Wilf and it doesn't help me."

He added: "The pundits on TV spend all day with their charts on who might go where - it's boring isn't it?"

Crystal Palace have won only twice in 10 games since the beginning of December, and they will be looking to arrest that form this weekend when former boss Dougie Freedman brings his Bolton side to Selhurst Park.

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