Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker-Peters started his side’s FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Mark Lawrenson has been left utterly perplexed as to why Tottenham defender Kyle Walker-Peters handled the ball in the penalty area during his side’s 2-0 FA Cup defeat against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The 21-year-old was given a rare start by manager Mauricio Pochettino and he produced a bizarre moment in the 34th minute when he put his hand up towards the ball following a cross despite no pressure around him.
Referee Kevin Friend, without any hesitation, pointed to the spot as Palace doubled their lead through winger Andros Townsend.
After the match, BBC pundit Lawrenson simply couldn’t understand what the Tottenham player was thinking because it played a big part in his team suffering a second cup exit in a matter of days.
“I don’t understand what goes through a players head when this happens,” Lawrenson told BBC One’s Match of the Day programme on 27/01/2019. “I seriously don’t. I mean what on earth are you thinking about? I just don’t get it.”
Prior to that incident, striker Conor Wickham slotted home from close range to open the scoring for Roy Hodgson’s side before Townsend fired from the penalty spot against his former club.
Minutes before the break, Patrick van Aanholt kicked the back of Juan Foyth’s leg in the penalty area, but Kieran Trippier’s spot-kick went horribly wide.
Nonetheless, over the course of the season, Walker-Peters has played six matches in all competitions for his side, supplying three assists – all of which came during his side’s 5-0 Premier League win against Bournemouth.
Spurs will return to Premier League action on Wednesday night, with Watford visiting Wembley before they host relegation-threatened Newcastle three days later.
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