August 11 2003

Steve Kember

Steve Kember was full of praise over his team's victory on Saturday, but was amazed by some of the match referee's decisions.

Palace recorded their first win of the 2003/04 campaign on a sweltering hot Saturday afternoon at Turf Moor, beating Burnley 3-2, despite playing long periods of the game with 10 men, and the remaining 22 minutes with only 9 men.

Kember was full of praise about his player's achievements afterwards. He said: "I can't say enough about their spirit."

"Dougie will get the headlines for his three goals but everyone played their part. It would be wrong to single anyone out."

The Eagles manager was left bemused though by a number of decisions made by referee Chris Foy during the game.

"Let's just say I found some of his decisions perplexing," said Kember. "Wayne was sent off for being the last defender.

"Fair enough if that is the rule. But if it is a rule for Crystal Palace then it must also be the rule for everyone else.

"How come when their defender brings down Dougie Freedman in the same circumstances and we get a penalty their player isn't even booked?"