‘It’s an insult’ – Palace boss Hodgson hits back at stories surrounding Wilf Zaha West Ham substitution

Roy Hodgson admitted he was “irritated” at stories claiming Wilfried Zaha was angry at being subbed off in Saturday’s 4-3 win against West Ham.

Zaha, who had just returned from a groin injury, was taken off in the 84th minute and replaced by Odsonne Edouard.

The 30-year-old scored Palace’s second of the match as Hodgson’s side reached the 40-point mark in the Premier League.

A few reports indicated that the Ivorian appeared ‘furious’ after being substituted in Palace’s 4-3 win over West Ham last Saturday.

“I’m irritated to some extent,” admitted Hodgson ahead of Saturday’s trip to Spurs.

“The press are reporting that Wilf was angry at being taken off. How do the press feel they have the right to report that? He wasn’t angry at being taken off at all. 

“In fact, he and I had discussed him playing an extra 10 minutes when I’d been thinking about taking him off 10 minutes earlier. 

“I hear that he was going on about one of the other players in the game. He certainly wasn’t moaning about being taken off. 

“It’s an insult, really, as we are talking about someone who I made captain of the team, and he was working hard to show an example to the team, saying this is what’s needed. 

“For him to read that Wilf Zaha throws his toys out the pram is totally and utterly untrue – that’s unfair.”