Saturday 21 January 2017 19:31, UK
Sam Allardyce questioned referee Anthony Taylor's decision to allow Seamus Coleman to score a late winner in Crystal Palace's defeat to Everton.
Coleman exploited space vacated by the injured Jeffrey Schlupp with three minutes remaining at Selhurst Park to snatch victory for the Merseysiders.
Allardyce took offence with the goal which condemned his side to a fourth Premier League defeat, although he felt his players were equally at fault.
"The referee should have stopped the game," he told Sky Sports. "It's not Everton's responsibility to kick the ball out of play when a player is struggling, it is the referee's responsibility.
"It probably was tough to take but we could have done a bit better. I'm not sure whether the players knew Jeffrey [Schlupp] was off the pitch but then I think so because Chung-Yong Lee dropped into his position.
"We could have done better defensively but also, having looked at the goal, he [Coleman] looks suspiciously offside.
"So there are two things; one, we could have done better to cut out the ball to Coleman and two, perhaps the assistant referee could have put his flag up.
"But he didn't and we're left with a very disappointing 1-0 defeat after working so hard to get the clean sheet and create some good chances against Everton - Christian Benteke's header off the bar early on and certainly the one where Joel Robles has made an outstanding save [from Scott Dann].
"Going 1-0 at that stage would have given us a great boost but it wasn't to be and, as it happens at this level, you struggle, everything seems to go against us.
"If we could have, or had been given the chance, to get a substitute on the field quicker that may not have happened, but it did so we have to take it on the chin and move on."
Allardyce switched to a 3-5-2 formation ahead of kick-off to accommodate the returning Loic Remy, who made his first Premier League start of the season.
Having been three minutes away from earning a vital point in their battle for survival, the Palace boss claimed the tactical change worked well.
"It was excellent, the lads stayed very positive and, but for that one incident, it would have got us that all-important clean sheet we're looking for," Allardyce added.
"Flexibility will be a big part of our way forward to get out of the problems we're in at the moment. To see how well they played in that system gives me encouragement when we need it again.
"It's a real shame for the lads, they could have done with a lift picking up the point, getting a 0-0 and moving on but unfortunately it wasn't to be."
