Burnley defeat 'galling', says Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew described his side's last-gasp 3-2 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon as "galling".

The visitors had fought back from two down at half-time to draw level thanks to second-half goals from substitute Connor Wickham, with his very first touch of the ball, and a Christian Benteke penalty with just nine minutes to go.

However, Palace were left heartbroken after getting caught on the break in the 94th minute to suffer their fourth straight league defeat, a run that has left the Eagles down in 15th place in the table.

Pardew, though, was adamant his players deserved more, claiming the Eagles were the better team on the day.

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"Of course it was a big blow for us, because to come back to 2-2 at this place is very difficult," he said. "The goalie is in top form, they are a tough team and we played some fantastic football today.

"We dominated the game from start to finish and we come away with losing from errors I am afraid, and they cost us.

"I think that anyone who was here today would suggest we do not look like a team that has lost their last four games. In fact, in all four games we have been very, very competitive."

Pardew's introduction of Wickham just before the hour-mark transformed the game, although by that stage Burnley were already 2-0 up following early strikes by Sam Vokes - after just 78 seconds - and Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

Both Clarets goals, though, were avoidable, according to the Palace boss.

"I did not think it [the substitution] transformed it too much, it got us a goal straight away as we got an extra striker on the pitch," said Pardew. "But we dominated this game and we actually played some wonderful football today.

"But we cannot concede three goals like that, they were poor goals and it cost us. It was two mistakes and their three goals are three goals on the break and they are the home team and that can't happen.

"And we are going to have to make sure we do not make those errors again and make a couple of adjustments to our own set plays as from two of our own set plays, we have conceded.

"But it is fine margins and those errors today have cost us and we now have to go into the international break on that run. And when we come back, we are going to have to pick up some points."

Palace - who have collected only one point from their last six league encounters - must now go away and lick their wounds over the upcoming international break, a frustration in particular for Pardew, who cannot be with his players.

"I can't really gather the troops now and talk things through, as they won't be here," he said. "But it is just so frustrating for my team, who have given everything, the fans have given everything and we have come away with nothing, which is a bit galling."