August 21 2010

George Burley

Crystal Palace manager George Burley blamed Claude Davis' red card for Crystal Palace's defeat to Ipswich.

Palace went a goal down after Davis was sent off for tugging Jon Stead in the box shortly into the second half and Grant Leadbitter put away the penalty.

Carlos Edwards added another before Ipswich's Andro Townsend was shown a red card for a kick on Julian Speroni. Neil Danns got a stoppage time consolation for the Eagles.

"The game hinged on one incident and we have not got anybody to blame than ourselves," said Burley.

"Overall I thought we were the better team. I thought we passed it better and some of the younger players were exceptional as well.

"So, I was pleased with the performance but if you lose that discipline as far of the sending off and the penalty is concerned against a team like Ipswich, then you are going to struggle.

"There are no excuses about the sending off and it was a penalty. We all make mistakes, it is a team game and we will take it on the chin, but we have to learn from it and I am sure Claude [Davis] will learn from this situation."

Roy Keane added: "I thought we deserved (to win) it. We looked dangerous and it was a tough game.

"This is always a tough place to come with strong, athletic players who can put you under pressure. So the second goal was a big boost for us and a good finish from Carlos, it was also a good move as well.

"Palace did cause us problems and we had a few scary moments but having said that, I don't think (goalkeeper) Marton (Fulop) had too many shots to save, but he will be disappointed with the goal he conceded, but that's football.

"I thought Andros was very unlucky to be sent off. He is not that sort of player. Sometimes the referee makes those decisions to even things up.

"He just jumped for the ball. If I felt one of my players deserved to be sent off I would sit here and tell you.

"He was unlucky, but we had the same here last year. Jon Stead was sent off, we appealed it and then he got another game ban.

"The keeper? His recovery was quite good and they had all the players around the referee."