Eagles boss accepts Millwall draw was fair result (From News Shopper)

Eagles boss accepts Millwall draw was fair result

4:36pm Saturday 20th October 2012 in Crystal Palace By Sunni Upal

CRYSTAL Palace manager Dougie Freedman felt a 2-2 draw was a fair result as the Eagles were pegged back by Millwall at Selhurst Park.

The home side took the lead with goals from Mile Jedinak and Damien Delaney but Dean Moxey’s sending off just before half-time for handball on the line paved the way for a Lions comeback.

Liam Trotter converted the spot kick and Mark Beevers equalised 13 minutes from time to ensure Millwall extended their long unbeaten run at Selhurst for another season.

“I felt it was a fair result,” said the Palace boss.

“For the first 40 minutes of the game until the sending off I thought we were excellent.

“We had real control of the game, good passing through the midfield and created opportunities.

“Millwall did what they do best and put us under pressure.

“We conceded a penalty and had a man sent off and from then we had to stick together.

“They didn’t really have any clear-cut opportunities and I’m disappointed to have conceded two goals but a point was deserved by both teams.”

Freedman also felt that had Moxey allowed Darius Henderson’s header to go in, rather than concede a penalty and a red card, Palace would have gone on to win the game at 2-1 up.

The Eagles chief said: “Only Dean can tell you what he was thinking at the time but it looked instinctive.

“I’m sure if he had time over again he would have let the ball go in the back of the net and with 11 men we win the game.

“But it is another derby that we are unbeaten in and I’m happy with a point.

“In the end the thing I’m most disappointed about was conceding from a corner.”

Freedman also heaped praise on captain Jedinak after the midfielder’s 30-yard goal in the first half.

The Scot said: “Mile has been fantastic this year and he has really stepped up to the plate.

“He has been the captain, a leader and now he is scoring goals as well. He is a good guy and deserves everything he gets.”

The Palace boss also thought his star man Wilfried Zaha coped well with the physicality of a south London derby.

He added: “People try and put Wilfried off his game and the referees have got to understand that it is part of their game plan to try and upset him but it is something he has got to learn to deal with.

“I felt his performance today was fantastic and his ability and skill to go by people is second to none.”

The Eagles now travel to Oakwell for a Tuesday night clash with Barnsley and Freedman believes motivation will not be an issue as they look to extend their unbeaten run to nine matches.

He said: “I think I have got a really easy job in getting the lads up for Tuesday night because I thought the performance today was fantastic.

“We are unbeaten in eight games and playing wonderfully well.”

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt