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Eriksson won't blame balloons

Eriksson won't blame balloons


Eriksson wont blame balloons

Man City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson refused to blame the balloons that littered the pitch at Bramall Lane as his side were knocked out to Sheff Utd today. Eriksson claimed the ball changed direction as it made contact with a balloon.

Eriksson said: "Sometimes you see two, three or four balloons on the pitch. I don't know how many there were out there, but there were lots.

"So before Sheffield scored we asked the fourth official to please tell the referee (Alan Wiley) to stop the match for one minute so we could clear the area.

"We received confirmation from the fourth official the referee got the message, but he didn't stop the game.

"At half-time I then heard the referee had asked Joe Hart to clear his area when the ball was up the other end of the field.

"But that's a little strange because Joe Hart has a lot of other things to do other than clear the pitch.

"I don't want to use it as an excuse, but it was a very strange goal. There were two balloons playing a one-two with Michael Ball.

"If you look at it the ball changed direction, but as I say it's not an excuse because even though they scored from a goal like that we should have been better.

"But it's something to write about because I've never seen a goal like that."