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Chopra hits back over 'that' miss
Sunderland, 11:34, February 10, 2009 ,
Michael Chopra has rubbished claims made by Sunderland old boy Gary Rowell that he didn't want to score against his old club Newcastle.
The 25-year-old, who was loaned back to former club Cardiff City for the second time this season just ahead of last week's transfer deadline, has spoken out for the first time since he passed up a great opportunity to win the Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park on February 1.
Chopra was through on goal and, instead of shooting, he opted to pass to Kenwyne Jones in the centre of the area. However his pass was too heavy and the chance was gone leaving the Black Cats having to settle for a point.
Following the game former Black Cats striker Rowell suggested that Chopra did not shoot as he did not want to score against his hometown club where he started his career.
However, Chopra has now hit back and told the South Wales Echo: "I haven't got a point to prove to anybody.
"I have read a lot about the Newcastle game and comments by a certain Gary Rowell.
"He knocked me for not shooting, and at the end of the day, I took a wrong option.
"But in a previous game, the same thing happened and we scored, so the guy should shut his mouth because he doesn't know what he's talking about.
"Last season, my six goals earned Sunderland 13 points, so his point really doesn't hold any water.
"It's absolutely nonsense to suggest that I didn't want to shoot against Newcastle.
"I made my mind up early and that was it. On another day, I might have hit the ball first time and scored; I might have missed and people would have said I should have squared the ball. You can't win."