Tuesday 8 December 2015 08:16, UK
Alan Pardew believes Crystal Palace could have taken all three points against Everton had refereeing decisions gone their way, but feels the 1-1 draw at Goodison was a fair result.
The visitors had a strong claim for a first-half penalty when Gareth Barry appeared to have a tight hold on Mile Jedinak's shirt as the Palace skipper tried to attack a corner.
Pardew believes they could have had another after the break when Ramiro Funes Mori tackled substitute Jordon Mutch, although the incident appeared to begin outside the box, but referee Craig Pawson didn't whistle on either occasion in the Premier League encounter on Monday night.
Scott Dann's header gave his side the lead after 76 minutes before Romelu Lukaku, who hit the post in the first half and the bar in the second as Everton dominated possession, scored with nine minutes remaining to ensure a share of the points.
"I thought it was a fair result because we showed all the qualities that we have as a team," Pardew told Sky Sports. "We have got discipline, [we are] dogged and have quality on the break when we are an away side.
"Tonight we have played a team in top form and we still almost won. But for a couple of refereeing decisions that, in my view, they have got wrong, we could have won it.
"I think it was obvious from where I was standing that his [Jedinak] shirt was being pulled but the referee and linesman didn't see it, which I'm surprised at.
"The second one was 12 yards from the linesman and I don't think he plays the ball at all and if he can't see that, then there is a problem. But they are swings and roundabout decisions; we accept they don't always go our way because that is part and parcel of the game.
Tonight we have played a team in top form and we still almost won. But for a couple of refereeing decisions that, in my view, they have got wrong, we could have won it.
"It was one of those nights and, in the context of what happened tonight, a draw was a fair result, no doubt about that. But sometimes you can win when you perhaps don't deserve to, and that could have happened had those decisions gone our way."
Wayne Hennessey pulled off a brilliant fingertip save to deny a Tom Cleverley volley in the second half and Pardew praised his side's "honest" display, with the point gained taking Palace sixth in the Premier League.
"The goal, we perhaps could have done better with, but there were tired legs - they had worked us hard and they had a couple that hit the bar and an unbelievable save from our goalie.
"Roberto [Martinez], I think, will be pleased with his team and I am certainly pleased with my team. It was one of those nights. We go sixth, that was the prize for us, and a home game, so that's what we have won, and we deserved it.
"But this team has produced an honest display which they always do; I never question their commitment. Just little bits of our quality tonight could have been better but, overall, a cracking game, a bit open last 20 minutes but I'm sure you enjoyed that."
