Watford captain Troy Deeney is facing a three-match ban after being retrospectively punished for his tussle with the 5’6’’ Joe Allen on Saturday. With Stoke City leading Watford 1-0 in the match’s final seconds, Deeney, who’s 6’0’’ and built like a brick sh*thouse, appeared to squish the wee Welshman’s head while cackling like a maniac.
It was the kind of move made famous by Michael Myers in the Halloween franchise, Deeney acting like a supernatural force of malignant intent.
Troy Deeney lifts Joe Allen off the ground. Photo: @18dMedia | Twitter
The referee either didn’t see the incident or just deemed it a bit of argy-bargy because no punishment was doled out on the pitch, but Deeney has now been hit with a violent conduct charge from the Football Association, and the striker looks set to miss matches against Everton, West Ham and Newcastle barring a successful appeal.
We haven’t seen this kind of tomfoolery since Kaka shoved his fingers down Aurelien Collin’s throat back in August, but that was just a goof.
The 29-year-old was instrumental in firing Watford back into the top flight back in 2015, and his goals have helped ensure the club’s survival in back-to-back Premier League campaigns. He’s been used primarily as a substitute this season although he did score the equalizing goal against Arsenal from the spot in the Hornets’ victory back in mid-October.
Deeney hasn’t been given a red card since 2013 in a match against Leeds United in the Championship, but this bit of gouging/squishing/headlock-ing puts a damper on Watford’s early success — they’re currently just a point behind Liverpool in sixth.
