Alan Pardew questioned why his side had a penalty awarded against them in today’s 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Manchester United.

Julian Speroni did very well to tip Daley Blind’s early long range drive on to the post but it was the visitors who got their noses in front in controversial circumstances on 19 minutes.

Ashley Young’s cross was adjudged by referee Michael Oliver to have struck the top of Scott Dann’s arm and the official pointed to the spot, with Juan Mata converting the penalty despite Julian Speroni going the right way.

Eagles chief Pardew said: “I’m a bit aggrieved about the penalty obviously.

“From a referee’s angle I think that’s a real tough call on us.

“Scotty Dann does gesture with his body but he is away from the referee and the referee from his angle can’t be sure that has hit his arm.

“I asked him that after and he said he just went with his gut feeling that it was a penalty but I think the player’s reaction, and seeing it on VT, I think that was a really tough call.”

There was more penalty controversy ten minutes into the second period when it looked like substitute Jason Puncheon was tripped by Mata, but much to the fury of the home fans nothing was given.

However, Puncheon wasn’t to be denied for much longer as within two minutes his free-kick from outside of the box flew past David de Gea to make it all square.

Only a fine piece of goalkeeping by the United stopper denied Glenn Murray what looked a certain goal, although it was United who sealed the points with 12 minutes remaining as Young’s delivery was headed home by Marouane Fellaini.

Pardew said: “In the first half Manchester United played well.

“They dominated possession, their rotation in midfield caused us a problem and we didn’t get to grips with them until the second half when we changed our shape.

“That helped us, we started to boss the game, we started to have a lot more control of possession, we got the equaliser and had a great moment to take the lead.

“It was a fabulous save by the goalie who I thought was outstanding all game really.

“The keeping and his distribution was really on the money today and probably prevented us from winning that game.

“And then low and behold a little bit of a collision and a couple of pushes for the second goal has cost us what would have been a great point for us, even if we didn’t win the game.”

On the decision not to award Puncheon a penalty before he equalised, Pardew also had words with Oliver afterwards.

He explained: “I also mentioned that to him (the ref) as well because I think if you are going to give penalties on the basis of the first one, then the second one is a penalty.

“I think there has been a number of times this year in the Premier League where we’ve had cast iron penalties and the referee has waved play on.”

Pardew added: “I actually think that has been a little bit of a problem in the first half of the season.

“We had the opposite today – he has given a penalty that for me he cannot be sure about.

“It is a 60-40, 70-30 depending on your view penalty, you might even call it 50-50.

“The Punch one is the same in my view. It is a 50-50, 60-40, 70-30 or whatever way you look at it.”

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