Pardew: Only murderers get sent off v Palace
Alan Pardew criticised referee Mike Jones after Crystal Palace’s 2-1 Premier League defeat by Bournemouth, insisting opposing players only get punished against his team for “committing murder”.
Bournemouth’s Adam Smith made a routine professional foul on Jordon Mutch in a relatively unthreatening area in the 84th minute, when Palace were chasing an equalising goal after Marc Pugh and Benik Afobe had given the visitors the lead.
Jones punished Smith with what appeared the right call in a yellow card, but Pardew believes the referee could have been stronger and that Palace are frequently being undermined to the extent he has lodged a complaint.
“I spoke to (referees’ chief) Mike Riley about (Mark) Clattenberg because the two incidents Saturday, the guy (Stoke’s Stephen Ireland) should get sent off,” said Pardew, whose team went ahead in the 27th minute through Scott Dann’s close-range volley.
“No one gets sent off against us, no one. You’ve got to really commit murder to get sent off against Crystal Palace, no one gets sent off here.
“Again, we have a one-on-one (against Bournemouth), when Jordon Mutch goes through. For me, it’s another tough decision.
“The one on Saturday was a definite sending off in my opinion, which Mike Riley agreed with me on, and at some point we will get a referee that acknowledges that, maybe.”
Pardew’s anger may have owed much to the fact his team underperformed in the absence of the injured Yohan Cabaye.
The talented midfielder suffered an ankle injury when being fouled by Ireland on Saturday in the incident Pardew said deserved a red card, and without him Palace’s creativity was minimal.
“We lacked composure at times,” added Pardew, who gave new signing Emmanuel Adebayor his debut from the bench.
“We certainly missed Yohan to just put his foot on it and slow the game down, it was a frantic game. Bournemouth really worked hard, put us under a lot of pressure.
“We’re a bit unlucky to lose, we had some good chances. The two chances they had they go in: that’s the run we’re on at the moment.
“It is becoming a problem, our strikers not scoring, there’s no doubt about that.
“We’re going to have to really dig in at Swansea (on Saturday), to try and get something.”