April 22 2005

Mikele Leigertwood

Mikele Leigertwood has slammed Rob Styles' decision-making in last weekend's clash with Norwich after the recently appointed FA Cup final official failed to give the Eagles three clear penalties, by Stuart Pink.

Leigertwood had a clear view of all the penalty claims and struggles to comprehend how the experienced official managed to oversee them.

Leigertwood said: "We should have had four. How Rob Styles doesn't see it, I don't know. The last one was less of a penalty than the first one.

"He's just given that because he knows it. But there is nothing you can do about it."

The 22-year-old former Wimbledon defender was preferred to Aki Riihilahti in the centre of the Palace midfield after filling in at right back since Emmerson Boyce was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken metatarsal.

But despite the Eagles failing to claim a much needed win, Leigertwood is still confident about the Eagles chances of staying up, citing last year's promotion achievement as their inspiration.

Leigertwood said: "Look at it last year, when we lost to Coventry and West Ham got a point. A lot might change again. Hopefully we can do it."

The Palace utility man also described the players mood at the end of the game against Norwich and revealed it was fairly subdued, despite the great comeback.

Leigertwood added: "Everybody felt we had it in our hands to win it but then we lost it a bit. To come back from 3-1 down is a good achievement, but we really do not want to be in that situation."

Live Croydon Guardian text commentary