Pardew Blames The Ref

The Staffordshire official dismissed Hammers striker David Connolly for two bookable offences half-an-hour into the game at Selhurst Park and Pardew felt the dismissal played a major part in the outcome.

"The sending-off was obviously the turning point of the game.

"Both bookings were quite quick and I thought it was very harsh to be sent off in those circumstances. In a tense derby game like that, the referee could have used his common-sense.

"I thought the referee could have taken the sting out of it but the game got fraught. If he had had a firmer grip on the game, it might not have resulted in a sending-off.

"But I can't fault the lads for work-rate and effort.

"People have questioned the character and fight in the side but they couldn't do that today."