Alan Pardew critical of Manchester United handling of Yohan Cabaye

Alan Pardew felt Manchester United targeted Yohan Cabaye in an "unfair" manner during the goalless draw with Crystal Palace.

Cabaye spurned one of Palace's best opportunities when he volleyed wide from close range in the second half.

Asked about the miss, Pardew instead focused on United's handling of the Frenchman at Selhurst Park.

"I was a bit disappointed with the treatment he got," he told Sky Sports. "Almost everyone was putting something on him, I thought it was a bit unfair.

"There were about eight fouls on him from different players, he was almost a target."

Along with Cabaye, Yannick Bolasie went close for Palace when he hit the bar while Scott Dann headed narrowly wide from a corner.

"We should have won," said Pardew. "It was an excellent performance, as good as we have been all year.

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"The freshness was back in our team along with the sharpness, our offensive players were a threat all day and United were fortunate to get a point.

"Second half there was only one team that was going to win and we were unfortunate to take a draw."

Palace had lost their previous three matches in a row and had never beaten United in the Premier League.

Although Pardew was disappointed they did not end that winless streak, he added: "It was a great performance, I'm very pleased, sometimes you take the point and say the performance was more important."