It's not always easy to take the side of Alan Pardew but, sometimes, you just have to swallow your pride and do the right thing.
West Brom went down 3-0 at the home of the champions on Monday night as Chelsea cruised to victory and Alan Pardew's new-look side had a very Daniel Sturridge feel to it.
That's because, three minutes into his second game with his new club, Sturridge went down injured and Sturridge had to be brought off. It's nothing you shouldn't avoid preparing for if you're going to put Daniel Sturridge into your team and, fortunately for Albion, they had Jay Rodriguez to spring from the bench.
The former Southampton attacker has been at the centre of allegations since Brighton's Gaetan Bong claimed the Englishman racially abused him but Rodriguez is determined to prove his innocence.
https://twitter.com/JayRodriguez9/status/961660622630014977
That's one event that has happened in this lifetime.
Another event is the player going through on goal against Chelsea and missing.
Two events, a month apart, happening independent of each other, not even remotely related.
The Sky Sports interviewer? He decided to marry the two.
After Rodriguez passed up the opportunity to take an extra touch when he had the time and space, the reporter reasoned that could possibly be down to what Gaetan Bong has claimed and how Jay-Rod is reacting to it.
Pardew didn't see it that way, obviously. No-one else in the world did. But, after a 3-0 loss, a big injury worry and a cheeky enough question which could only be designed for a soundbite, the West Brom manager did remarkably well to keep his cool.
Watch below from 02:10.
https://youtu.be/rHpbOZG5T60
Reporter: "It seemed like an odd decision to take it [the chance] so early. Do you think that's got anything to do with what's going on for him off the field, without going in to many details particularly?"
Pardew: "I think that's a really... not a very nice question at all if I'm honest. I don't think it's got anything to do with it if I'm honest. It's just confidence to take an extra touch and take it nearer the goal. But I don't think it's anything to do with that at all and I don't know where you're getting that judgement from. I'm sorry."
Reporter: "I just wondered if the decision-making is affected at all by having a lot going on off the pitch. I don't mean anything untoward about it."
Pardew: "I don't think so. He probably thought the goalie might not have been set and to take it early was the best option. But in hindsight, he should take a touch in there and bury it. But I can't imagine it's anything to do with that, I'm sorry."
https://twitter.com/Goalazzzo247/status/963176879523090432
https://twitter.com/SmnLlyd5/status/963183052242538496
https://twitter.com/Reevsie247/status/963177429459243010
