Alan Pardew: Slight error cost Crystal Palace
Saturday 13 February 2016 19:07, UK
Alan Pardew felt his side's defeat to Watford was a result of a "slight error" and that they should have at least drawn the match.
Palace have now failed to record a Premier League win in two months, a sequence that was extended on Saturday when two goals from Troy Deeney cancelled out Emmanuel Adebayor's first goal for the Eagles on his full debut to give the Hornets a 2-1 win.
Pardew admitted his side were nowhere near the standard he requires of them in the first half but felt the improvements they made in the second half were enough to at least procure a draw from the match.
"The first half was not good," he said. "That was not the way we want to play and the second half was much better from us.
"We got a goal in the first half which perhaps we didn't deserve but which got us back in the game.
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"In the second half we probably should have won it, we had great opportunities and we dominated that second half, so it was a blow to lose the game.
"We made a slight error on the goal. Wardy feels the centre-half isn't going to win it so he goes and covers that space, which gives Deeney the room to get into.
"The two goals we conceded today were not good and we need to correct that.
"I can't think of too many other threats they had in the second half but that's how it is for us. They had a five-minute spell and scored and in the Premier League that can happen.
"This is a bad run for us and we need to stick together now."
Deeney's first goal came after just 16 minutes and from the penalty spot after he had been hauled down by Palace captain Mile Jedinak at a corner.
The awarding of the penalty was strongly criticised by the Palace players on the pitch but Pardew did not criticise referee Robert Madley for the decision and instead said it was a "tough call".
"It was the first corner and you see holding all the time in the box - there was plenty going on against us," he said. "It was a tough call, I think, for the referee to give it.
"It was right in front of the referee, he's decided he's holding him, and he's given it.
