Gareth Bale bemused by diving criticsm

Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale has insisted that he does not dive despite picking up a third yellow card of the season for simulation this afternoon.

Spurs' 2-1 win over Sunderland was marred late on when Bale was penalised after going to ground in the area following a tussle with Craig Gardner.

Bale has insisted that there is nothing he can do and he is merely protecting himself when he feels contact has been made.

He told Sky Sports News: "That's the third time now I've been clipped and booked for no reason again. There's nothing I can do, the referees need to look a bit closer.

"People think I'm diving when there's contact. If there's contact it's a penalty or free kick, there's nothing I can do. If there's contact, what do you want me to do, hit my head on the floor?

"I have to put my hands down to protect myself. If people kick me, I'm going to go down. It doesn't bother me, people keep saying I'm diving but it doesn't bother me whatsoever. It's a foul and I know it myself."

The Welsh winger will now be suspended for the game against Reading on New Year's Day, with an automatic one-match ban handed out for a fifth booking of the campaign.