Crystal Palace have tracked down their ball boy Kwadwo Baah, who valiantly tried to stop West Ham from time-wasting in the Eagles’ home defeat to the Hammers’ last weekend.
Having technically broken the rule saying ball boys mustn’t enter the field of play, Palace dished out some punishment at their training ground – but it just gave Kwadwo another opportunity to put himself centre-stage.
With Palace staring down the barrel of a 0-1 defeat at Selhurst Park on Saturday night, the young lad took matters into his own hands as West Ham goalkeeper Adrián dithered over yet another goal kick.
With the Spanish stopper showing no inclination to fetch the ball from behind the goal, Kwadwo decided against handing Adrián the ball in favour of running past him and plonking the ball on the edge of the six-yard box.
The ball boy’s action was met with loud cheers from the Palace home end, who had long since lost patience with the perceived time-wasting tactics.
Interviewed by the club, Kwadwo said: “I saw the players getting really angry that the keeper was taking really long.
“The crowd started booing the keeper, so I got really angry as well.”
Kwadwo’s ‘punishment’ merely involved fetching more footballs – something he’s already proven himself better at than the average Premier League goalkeeper.
West Ham had been left clinging to their lead against Palace after seeing full-back Aaron Cresswell sent off in the 75th minute, and made all three of their substitutions in the final 12 minutes.
Palace were left to rue a missed penalty from Christian Benteke having also been denied by the woodwork, while nemesis Adrián was called upon to make a late save to preserve his side’s advantage.
Telegraph
