March 17 2010

Paul Hart

Crystal Palace boss Paul Hart has slammed Claude Davis for his red card in Crystal Palace's 1-0 defeat to Leicester.

Davis lashed out at Michael Morrison and was sent off for violent conduct - on his return from a two-game suspension.

Hart said: "I don't think we can defend that at all. I've not asked him (Davis) what he was thinking. I will study what the code of conduct is, but my last word to the players is always stay on the pitch.

"It is the last thing we needed and very disappointing. It was tough enough with 11 players on the pitch.

"It's not for me to comment on what the players think but it was unnecessary and made the game difficult for us.

"Now I have to consider the recovery of these players because they have had to put in a real shift. But we played well in the second half. We were excellent and unlucky not to get a goal.

"We created chances in most of the games but all season the scoring has not been prolific. I will continue to back these players and help them as much as I can but we know we need some results."

Leicester assistant manager Chris Powell said: "You have to earn everything you get and to get three points in a feisty game is good.

"The sending off was significant and got the crowd on the backs of the officials. We were looking at it and wondering if one of our players would get sent off as well.

"But the manager (Pearson) kept us calm and said if we keep the pressure on we would get the goal and it came through Bruno."