Moyes: “I don’t want a team that surrounds the ref, but…”

David Moyes doesn’t want his team surrounding referees trying to intimidate them into handing out penalties.

But he admits he remains astonished that we haven’t had a single spot-kick during this exciting season.

ClaretandHugh’s Allen Cummings drew big attention to the issue is a recent blog and Moysie admits that it is staggering that not one has come our way.

Speaking to reporters he said: “The other night there was a couple of incidents of players staying on their feet getting into the box. My ideal would be that players stay up.

I don’t want the players in any way trying to con referees but it is quite incredible that, with the position, we are in, that we have not had a penalty kick. Not even close for the attempts and chances we’ve created.

I can think of two or three penalties, one against Fulham, one against Liverpool, where I would say there was incredibly little contact and the referees gave them.

I don’t want a side who surrounds the referee or tries to influence them in any way but in the same breath I’m hoping in the second half of the season we might do more.

Maybe we have to get in the box more, find people who will take the ball in the box more. But the penalties we’ve given away, some of them have been incredibly soft.

If you look at the amount of times Michail Antonio is touched and because of his physical capacity, he stays on his feet.

So you’re just hoping we’ll get what we’re due and maybe a few penalties over the second half of the season.”