http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/8720940.Davies_blasts_City_divers/
Davies blasts City divers
KEVIN Davies has branded Manchester City’s play-actors as “embarrassing” after watching Wanderers’ unbeaten run come to an exasperating end at Eastlands.
Carlos Tevez’s early strike was enough to condemn the Whites to their first defeat since October – but, aside from the result, it was the behaviour of Blues stars Mario Balotelli, Yaya Toure and David Silva that skipper Davies found hard to stomach.
“When there is not much contact and they go down screaming, it’s embarrassing from a man’s point of view,” the striker said.
“There are a lot of European players in their squad and I think that’s something they are taught on the continent.
“It’s frustrating and embarrassing at times. It’s part of our game, unfortunately, and you need the referee to sort it out. And I thought he did okay.”
While they may have had problems taking the tackles, City proved adept at dishing them out with Serbian defender Aleksandar Kolarov sent off for a two-footed slide on Sam Ricketts.
“There were some good tackles coming in from them as well,” Davies said after the game. “That probably surprised us a little bit.
“You want to go out and compete and play the game fairly. But when it’s reversed the players complain about the other side of it “As a player you have got to try and control yourself a little bit and get on with it.”
While Davies was making no apologies for his stance on Manchester City’s divers, he was forced into a climb down over some late-night Twitter comments about the club.
Remarking on the social networking site, Davies wrote that Carlos Tevez’s furious response to being substituted late on highlighted problems in Roberto Mancini’s squad.
“Seeing Tevez reaction to being subbed assures me there is problems within City, great players individually but as a team?”.
But the next day, the striker thought better of his comments.
“Just wanted to say sorry for commenting on City last night. Not really my place to comment on other clubs and not on here to do that,” he wrote.
Wanderers now turn their attention to Sunday’s Lancashire derby with one of Davies’s former clubs Blackburn Rovers.
And the front man believes his team-mates will have no problems picking themselves up from only their third defeat in 16 league games.
“Bouncing back is something we have done pretty well this season,” he said.
“I don’t think the lads will need any motivation for next week.
“It’s one of the biggest games the fans look forward to.
“It’s my job as captain and I am sure the manager will be making sure we are all fired up for what will be a massive game to get back to winning ways.”
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