Crouch: ‘do not make Carson the scapegoat’

PETER CROUCH has urged fans not to make Scott Carson the scapegoat for England’s Euro 2008 exit and he believes the goalkeeper will eventually become England’s number one.

Carson, who is on loan to Aston Villa this season, was given his competitive debut for his country in the crunch qualifier with Croatia at Wembley and his error gifted Niko Kranjcar the opening goal in his side’s 3-2 win.

But Crouch, himself the victim of the England boo boys when first breaking into the side, has seen at first hand Carson’s abilities with club and country and has no doubt he can recover from this setback. The 26-year-old said: “Scott is a fantastic keeper and also a young keeper and, although he will be disappointed with Wednesday, I’ve trained and played with him every day and I know just how good he is.