Saturday, 18th October, 2014
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has bemoaned what he viewed as a series of bizarre decisions from the referee during his side's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Selhurst Park today, while also blasting the Blues players for crowding round the match official.
Warnock saw his side go behind after just six minutes when Oscar slotted home an impressive 25-yard free kick in just the sixth minute.
As the first half ticked on, both teams saw themselves reduced to ten men, with Cesar Azpilicueta for Chelsea and Damien Delaney for Crystal Palace being handed their marching orders.
Cesc Fabregas then scored his first goal for the Blues to put Chelsea 2-0 ahead, before Fraizer Campbell grabbed a late goal to pull one back for the hosts.
And Warnock was not happy with the refereeing he saw throughout the Premier League clash, feeling the official was influenced by Chelsea players.
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Warnock told the BBC: "The one thing I've not missed when I've been doing my media work, I've not missed performances like that. We played really well and it's overshadowed by a poor performance by the referee.
"John Terry doesn't get booked and he books Damien Delaney and I think it's ridiculous. I thought he was influenced today. Delaney got a touch to the ball in the first booking, the second one [Loic] Remy dives and then you have four Chelsea players surrounding the referee. I thought those days were gone – banned.
"I think the four lads around him made his mind up for him. It takes away from the performance. I thought they [my players] did really well. It's so disappointing.
"I don't think the referee has a defence today. I don't really want to talk about him. All things being even, I thought we would have got a result", Warnock concluded.
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