Dele Alli should have been sent off for ‘clear as day’ kick says Steve McManaman as Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino admits midfielder has ‘a lot to learn’

Tottenham drew 1-1 with Fiorentina in the Europa League round of 32
Spurs midfielder Dele Alli was booked for a kick on Nenad Tomovic
BT Sport pundit Steve McManaman believes he should have been sent off
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino says Alli must learn more discipline
England international Alli signed for Spurs from MK Dons last year

Published:
00:13 GMT, 19 February 2016

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Updated:
00:32 GMT, 19 February 2016

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Tottenham midfielder Dele was fortunate not to be sent off in his side’s 1-1 draw with Fiorentina in the Europa League round of 32 tie first-leg, according to BT Sport’s panel of pundits.

The England international was booked on the half-hour mark at the Stadio Artemio Franchi after he kicked La Viola’s Nenad Tomovic while the defender was on the floor.

Replays appeared to show that Alli made no effort to jump over Tomovic, who had cleared the ball into touch, and instead caught him with his boot.

Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli was caught kicking out at Fiorentina’s Nenad Tomovic on Thursday night

The England international appeared to make no effort to avoid Tomovic who was downed on the turf

Tomovic reacted angrily after the incident and confronted Alli during Spurs’ 1-1 draw with La Viola

Alli was shown a yellow card but BT Sport pundit Steve McManaman believes he deserved to be sent off

Former Liverpool winger McManaman believes that Alli should have been sent off for the kick on Tomovic

Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman said in his post-match analysis: ‘It was as clear as day and he should have got a red card actually. He certainly would have got a red card in the Premier League.’

Fellow pundit and ex-Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jeans, meanwhile, added: ‘The more he keeps doing it, the more the refs are going be looking out for it. It’s something he needs to cut out from his game.’

Indeed, this is not the first time that Alli has been called out on his poor discipline. Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew accused Alli of stamping on Yohan Cabaye in Tottenham’s 3-1 win over the Eagles in January.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted that Alli still had ‘a lot to learn’ following his rise from the lower divisions.

Of the youngster he signed MK Dons last year, the Argentine commented: ‘We need to look at the video (replay) and try to teach him.

‘He is a young player and he needs to learn a lot, still learn. But I didn’t see (the incident). Some people say yes, say no, so I don’t know.’

Nacer Chadli put Spurs 1-0 up against Fioretina, converting a 37th minute penalty. However, Federico Bernardeschi equalised for the hosts in the second-half, meaning the two sides will go into the tie’s second-leg at White Hart Lane on level terms.