Rowett rages at Maddison ‘dive’ as Derby draw with Norwich

Posted Sunday, February 11, 2018 by PA

Derby manager Gary Rowett pointed an accusing finger at James Maddison after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Norwich at Pride Park.

Rowett claimed Maddison dived for the first of Norwich’s two penalties which was saved by Scott Carson just before half-time.

Maddison then levelled from the spot 18 minutes from time, cancelling out Matej Vydra’s early opener for the Rams.

Rowett admitted Derby were “poor” but was unimpressed with how Maddison won the first penalty and exchanged words when he was substituted.

He said: “I thought it was a clear dive.

“I don’t like to say that and firstly I thought Maddison was excellent, he’s a really talented player and it happens all over the country so I’m not going to vilify one individual. But as he knocked it past Scott Carson he left his leg in for contact.

“He’s a young talented player but the fact is I felt he enticed the contact and it was too easy to go to ground but if it was one of my players I would be saying exactly the same thing.

“I was disappointed with that first penalty but had no problem with the second or that Norwich were better than us. I think today was the poorest we have been for a while and we were very fortunate to keep our unbeaten run going.”

Norwich could have scored in the ninth minute but Nelson Oliveira’s shot was too close to Carson after he out-muscled Curtis Davies and Derby struck first when Vydra span onto Ikechi Anya’s pass three minutes later and found the bottom-right corner from 15 yards.

It was his 17th league goal of the campaign and Derby threatened to take control before Norwich had their first spot-kick in the 40th minute when Maddison was caught after lifting the ball over Carson.

Referee Jeremy Simpson awarded the penalty after consulting with a linesman but Oliveira put his kick too close to Carson, who saved low to his right.

Oliveira was then fouled by Tom Huddlestone in the 72nd minute and this time Maddison stepped up to send Carson the wrong way and earn Norwich a deserved point.

City head coach Daniel Farke said: “I think the result is a scandal because we should have won this game. For the last 75 minutes there was only one team controlling this game.

“We created so many chances against a team so good at defending and in general a draw at Derby is a really great result because they are second in the table and on an unbeaten run.

“I think it was a clear penalty against James Maddison, for me it was obviously a penalty so compliments to the linesman that he was able to read the situation in the right way.”