CRYSTAL Palace manager George Burley was left disappointed after his side were beaten 2-1 by former manager Neil Warnock’s Queens Park Rangers at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles thought they had scored a deserved equaliser in the 89th minute when Kieran Cadogan stabbed home after skilful work on the wing from Wilfred Zaha.

However, their hard work was undone in stoppage time as Heidar Helguson rose above everyone, including an on-rushing keeper Julian Speroni to bundle home an injury time winner.

That snatched all three points for the table-toppers and Warnock on his return to SE25, leaving Burley to rue his side’s naivety.

He said: “After conceding a bad goal I thought we hung on, worked very hard, created a number of opportunities and got a deserved equaliser, so I’m very disappointed.

“Maybe we were a little bit naive after we scored and didn’t start on the front foot and look to go for the winner by playing in their half.

“We were up against a very good side. They’re experienced and strong and have a lot of quality.

“Overall, I’m disappointed for the players in a game where we worked so hard to get a point and then came away with nothing.”

The Hoops’ winner was not without controversy as Speroni believed he was fouled by the Icelandic striker and was even booked for protesting to the referee.

Some criticism has been aimed at the Argentinean stopper for not attempting to punch the ballbut Burley stood by his number one and believed he was unlucky not to get the decision in his favour.

He added: “It was a ball in the box where Julian has gone to catch it.

“I think Helguson has jumped with his hand up, whether he made contact I’m not quite sure.

“That decision could have gone either way but I thought Julian was tremendous again today.

“He is a terrific keeper and he felt the decision was unjust and I think it could have gone either way.

“Usually referees will go on the side of the goalkeeper but it wasn’t to be today.”

The defeat leaves the Eagles in the relegation zone and after 10 games they have accumulated just eight points.

However, Burley is backing his young squad to work hard and to come good sooner rather than later.

He said: “In the last two games we have come up against sides at the top of the table and I think we have done well.

“Some of our forward play has been exciting from the two wide players in some of the areas where they love taking people on, Wilfred and Djilali have been outstanding at times “At the moment we have nine or 10 players out.

“Some of the young players have come in and done very well, so we have got to keep working hard.”