Neville points to divot
Gary Neville has said Paul Robinson could have contributed to his own downfall.
Gary Neville has suggested that Paul Robinson could have contributed to his own downfall, as England slipped to defeat in Croatia on Wednesday.Croatia claimed a 2-0 win with a professional display, but much of the post-game talk centred on the second goal which secured victory.
Manchester United defender Neville played a measured backpass towards Robinson, but watched on in horror as the ball jumped in the air and over the keeper's foot before rolling into the net.
Robinson has absolved himself of all blame, but it is clear that the ball flipped up off a divot - one which in all probability was made by either the keeper or his Croatia counterpart Stipe Pletikosa to aid them in taking goalkicks.
Neville, who has been unfortunately credited with an own goal, does not blame Robinson and feels he could have made life easier for the keeper by passing away from goal.
"If there is a criticism of me, you are told as a youngster to pass away from the goal when passing back to your goalkeeper," Neville told Sky Sports News. "But I think that it was definitely a freak thing.
"It has happened one or two times over the last five or ten years and I think it is where the keepers dig their own divots for setting the ball up for their own goal kicks.
"It just flipped up off that and I don't think there is anything anyone could have done about that one."
