Townsend: I took a dive

Andros Townsend has vowed to cut diving out of his game after revealing that he apologised to referee Mike Dean for taking a fall during Tottenham's derby with Chelsea.Gareth Bale's superb season was tainted by accusations of diving last year, and Townsend - one of the men charged with filling the void left by the Welsh star - also found himself at the centre of a play-acting storm this weekend.Blues boss Jose Mourinho also criticised Townsend's Spurs team-mate Jan Vertonghen for what he claimed was an over-reaction to an aerial collision with Fernando Torres which led to the Chelsea man being sent off for what was deemed a second bookable offence.Townsend played superbly in Spurs' 1-1 draw with Chelsea, but he blotted his copybook in the first half when he feigned being tripped by Frank Lampard.Dean rightly booked Townsend and the 22-year-old admitted after the game that he was wrong to dive."It was definitely a yellow card. I deserved it," the Tottenham winger said."You make mistakes and that dive was a mistake. I apologised to the ref. I said to him at half-time that I thoroughly deserved it and hopefully I won't do that again."I have got to kick it out of my game."Given that so many players refuse to acknowledge that they actually dive, Townsend's words are refreshing to hear.The midfielder was accused of simulation when he won a penalty against Swansea earlier this season, but the youngster insists he is not a prolific diver.

Source: PA