Real lesson learned for two-goal Crouch

THEY say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but they also say it is never too late to learn.

Peter Crouch, at 29, is no spring chicken, but he has learned a lesson in the harshest possible way. Midway through the first half of this thoroughly entertaining game, and having scored the opening goal, Crouch saw an opportunity to win the ball from Marc Wilson. It was no more than a 50/50 ball, and would involve a sliding challenge like those that saw him get not one, but two yellow cards in the Bernabeu on Tuesday night.

Mindful of the dismissal that cost him and Tottenham so dearly that night, Crouch looked, hesitated and held back, with his arms wide apart, signalling that he was going to let it go.