Watford captain brands team-mate 'pathetic'

Troy Deeney will speak to team-mate Juan Carlos Paredes after what the Watford captain described as a "pathetic" incident in his side's 0-0 draw against Chelsea at Vicarage Road.

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Paredes, a 28 year-old Ecuador international, was involved in a petty exchange with Diego Costa towards the end of the first half.

Paredes appeared to initiate the flare-up when he barged into the back of Costa. The Spain international responded by pushing Paredes, who went down holding his face and was subsequently accused of tying to get Costa sent off.

Both players were booked by referee Mike Dean following the altercation, and Deeney was highly critical of his team-mate's antics.

"The way I grew up playing football, people would probably get a kick for rolling around and doing it the other way. I just thought it was a bit pathetic," Deeney said.

"My only question to the referee was if Costa is going to get another talking to, what was the point in talking to him the first time?

"He agreed with it, gave a yellow card and booked our guy, too. When he booked our guy I can't say anything because if you roll around like an idiot that is what you get.

"I am going to try and protect my man as much as I can but he didn't help himself, let's put it that way."

Paredes spent his formative years playing in the Ecuadorian Serie A before moving to Vicarage Road in the summer of 2014.

"Look at me: I am a big guy so when I go down, normally it hurts. I don't throw myself on the floor," Deeney said.

"I am just brought up old-school and I don't get why would you go down.

"It is different. I don't think if I go down, roll around and hold my face people are going to think I am cool, they are going to think you look more of an idiot, to be honest

"I'll have a chat with him but he is not from England, he is not brought up the way I am brought up, whereas the way he is used to playing, that is normal."

Watford, who are ninth in the Premier League table, head to White Hart Lane on Saturday to face high-flying Tottenham.