Christian Benteke apologises to Crystal Palace teammates for penalty farce against Bournemouth

Christian Benteke has apologised to his Crystal Palace teammates for the penalty farce that saw the Eagles drop two valuable points in the dying moments of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth.

The Belgian striker grabbed the ball for Palace’s stoppage-time penalty, ignoring the pleas to hand it to usual spot-kick taker Luka Milivojevic.

Milivojevic, who had scored a penalty in the first half stood hands on hips as Benteke’s tame effort was saved by Asmir Begovic and Bournemouth escaped Selhurst Park with a point.

But Roy Hodgson has revealed that Benteke was swift to apologise to his teammates before training on Monday morning.

"The first opportunity, this morning, he gets the players around, says his piece – he’s already said it to me – that’s a strong and correct thing to do, and he makes it perfectly clear, ‘I took this responsibility; I shouldn’t have done because I’m breaking ranks, I’m not obeying team instructions, so I apologise for that, but I’m now going to get on with it’, and once more, I’m pretty sure he’ll make it up to us,” said Hodgson.

"I am very happy with the way he has reacted to it and taken responsibility and the way he has explained that to the rest of the team.”

Benteke is still goalless for the season but had enjoyed one of his better games up until the late spot-kick debacle.

And Hodgson didn’t sound like a man who would be dropping his only senior striker for Tuesday’s visit of Watford after this transgression.

"Christian was very confident, he had played well and he believed he was going to score that penalty," Hodgson added. "He persuaded Luka to let him take it. He wanted it and felt good, but unfortunately it didn't work out.

"And there’s no guarantee Luka would've scored it either, of course."