Villas-Boas defends Bale

Andre Villas-Boas has defended Gareth Bale after the winger was booked for diving for a second successive game in Tottenham's 3-0 win over Fulham.

Bale has battled throughout his career against allegations that he goes to ground too easily. That claim came to the fore on Wednesday when he was booked for simulation against Liverpool and he saw yellow again on Saturday when Chris Foy cautioned him for diving following a tackle by Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell.

"Gareth is so fast so it is very difficult (for referees) to judge situations," Villas-Boas said. "He has suffered big, big injuries to his ankles before and sometimes he wants to protect himself a little bit. He might put his body in situations that the referee thinks that he is diving and he is suffering for it in these last two games.

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