Warnock lambasts Robins

10:07am Monday 12th May 2008

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NEIL Warnock had some harsh things to say about Crystal Palace's opposition following his side's 2-1 loss to Bristol City in the first leg of the play-off semi-final on Saturday.

The Eagles boss described a second half tackle by City's Marvin Elliott on Danny Butterfield as "horrific" and said a red card could have changed the game.

He raged: "If you can't see that's a red card, then there's something wrong with the game of football. That's a straight red card.

"You can see from the reaction of Elliott that he thought it was a red. He thought it was the end of his season and quite rightly so.

"It was a horrific challenge. I don't understand it when you can get booked for kicking the ball away.

"We've got to be better at spotting horrible tackles like that. We should have been playing against 10 men, which would have been easier."

Warnock also questioned the tactics and goal celebrations of Bristol City.

He said: "I was concerned with a lot of the kicks going in on our threatening younger players.

"I didn't think we got enough protection with regards to the young lads. Maybe the refs have been told to use common sense and not dish yellow cards out.

"Howard Webb is in charge for the next leg and I don't think we'll see the same tackles then."

The Palace chief added: "We didn't like some of the celebrations if I'm honest, but that's the other side off football isn't it.

"You could see they thought they were at Wembley. I don't think there is a need to go off like they did.

"It's a two-leg game and yes they have got an advantage. They are 2-1 up and we have injury problems.

"But the celebrations should be kept until after you get through because football has a nasty habit when you think you have already done it."

Finally, when asked how damaging the reoccurrence of James Scowcroft's hamstring injury was to the team's promotion bid, Warnock said: "It's a blow because that is their soft centre.

"They are vulnerable to good players like that up front who have physical presence, but unfortunately it wasn't to be."