Christian Benteke put on the spot by furious Crystal Palace team-mates

Benteke missed a stoppage time penalty in the draw with Bournemouth
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Giuseppe Muro11 December 2017

Christian Benteke’s Crystal Palace team-mates were furious with the striker after he went against team orders to take the 92nd-minute penalty that cost his relegation-threatened side victory against Bournemouth.

Benteke wrestled the ball from designated taker Luka Milivojevic and his weak effort was saved by Asmir Begovic, meaning Palace drew 2-2.

Palace manager Roy Hodgson was unhappy with Benteke and some of his team-mates questioned why the out-of-form forward took it upon himself to assume penalty duties.

Tensions were running high in the dressing room and a shell-shocked Benteke was one of the first players to leave Selhurst Park afterwards.

​Benteke has now missed three of his five penalties for Palace and Hodgson faces a decision over whether to drop him for tomorrow’s home game against Watford. The Belgian, who has not scored this season and was booed off the pitch, is clearly lacking in confidence.

Hodgson has said Benteke needs to repay his team-mates after what was a lack of professionalism at what could prove to be a crucial moment in the season.

Palace captain Jason Puncheon appeared to be screaming from the bench for Milivojevic to take the penalty and James Tomkins also seemed to query why Benteke took the ball. Following the whistle, Hodgson was confronted by an angry fan, who wanted to know why Benteke took the penalty.

And chairman Steve Parish issued an apology for a “lively discussion” he had with a fan after the game.

In Pictures | Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth | 09/12/2017

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Hodgson said: “If we get relegated and two points in May would have kept us up, I will say maybe these points are the ones that cost us.”

Meanwhile, Wilfried Zaha is unlikely to face a retrospective diving ban after winning two penalties against Bournemouth.

Zaha went down under contact from Bournemouth goalkeeper Begovic for the first one and a three-man FA panel were today reviewing footage of the incident.

However, Hodgson said: “He does not dive, that is the simple fact of the matter.”

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