Crystal Palace FC

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• Founded:1905
• Manager:Dougie Freedman

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Warnock blasts incompetence

15 Feb 2010 - 13:55:21

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Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has blasted referee Kevin Friend and assistant Trevor Massey after his side were denied a FA Cup quarter-final berth on Sunday.

With Palace 2-1 ahead in their fifth round clash with Aston Villa late in the game, Julian Speroni's fantastic save saw the ball ricochet off Nathan Delfouneso and go out of play.

However, the officials got the decision wrong, awarding a corner that allowed Stilian Petrov to head home from the resulting flag-kick.

With the cash-strapped Eagles just three minutes away from the quarter-finals, they still have a trip to Villa Park for the replay to generate some much-needed finance.

The victors face the winners of Reading and West Bromwich Albion in the next stage.

Speaking after the game, Warnock fumed: "I am devastated. We played a Premier League team and worked our socks off.

"But their second goal was a disgrace. We have a Premier League referee and we got Mr Massey laughing his head off all afternoon with the flag.

"If you look at it the keeper saves it and it comes off Delfouneso and neither of them wanted to make a decision.

"They wait and wait and wait to see which way they should give it. It's a disgrace, he should be banned for weeks should Mr Massey.

"All he can do is smile."