Dowie and Jones head to head over multi-ball

Last updated : 08 February 2006 By Michael Morris
Dave Jones suggested after City's defeat at Crystal Palace that the balls being passed back by the ballboys seemed to slow up after Palace had scored.

'The multi-ball system should be ended,' said Jones.

'All grounds are enclosed, the ball isn't going anywhere.

'It's the worst system in the world to have multi-balls and just use the nearest one. When a home team score suddenly all the balls go missing.'

In defence Ian Dowie has hit back saying

“I find it staggering that Dave mentioned time-wasting when their goalkeeper Neil Alexander was taking 15 minutes over every goal-kick,” Dowie told the Echo.

“I wish our ball-boys would give us the ball quickly and take ages to give it to the opposition, but they don’t change for anyone.

"I don't like gamesmanship, and it’s not what I’m about. We want to beat teams because of our merits.”