Everton striker Oumar Niasse has hit back at claims suggesting that he dived to win his side a penalty in the draw at Crystal Palace, the Croydon Advertiser reports.
The Senegalese forward was at the heart of much controversy on Saturday, as Everton came away from Selhurst Park with a 2-2 draw.
Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot early on in the first-half, handing Everton a controversial penalty. Niasse went to ground under a challenge from Palace defender Scott Dann, seemingly without much contact having been made.
Leighton Baines duly dispatched the resulting spot kick and Niasse also managed to get himself on the score sheet with a well-taken finish on the stroke of half-time.
Niasse came under fire recently as a result of the suspicion of him cheating to win the penalty but has set the record straight, insisting that he did not dive against Palace.
People were saying that I fell down easily. I don’t know. I didn’t see the video again. To get into the box, I tried to dribble the guy; he was coming into contact. When I felt the contact, I knew then he pushed me away.
The contact was on my upper body but when I felt the contact I was in the box so that is it, that is all I have to do, go on the floor. It was because I was running so quick. I will be shocked [if I am charged with diving] because there is contact.
The former Lokomotiv Moscow man will hope to continue his good form when Everton travel to Southampton on Sunday.
