Alex Neil says there was a shortage of quality at Selhurst Park
Saturday 9 April 2016 19:39, UK
Manager Alex Neil felt his relegation-threatened Norwich side were unlucky not to leave Crystal Palace with a point on Saturday.
There was a huge amount at stake at Selhurst Park and the sides produced a fairly nervous, scrappy encounter, with clear-cut chances thin on the ground.
However, Jason Puncheon conjured up a moment of real quality in the 68th-minute to find the net and, although Norwich created some reasonable chances after falling behind, they were unable to find a leveller.
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"There was nothing in the game," said Neil.
"It was an edgy game, I did not think there was a huge amount of quality. I think both teams went back to front pretty quickly and were looking to play in the opposition's half.
"It was a case of who could open the opposition up or who was going to make the first mistake and, unfortunately for us, Crystal Palace scored a good goal.
"I feel disappointed in the fact I don't feel we have been outplayed. I don't think Crystal Palace played particularly well and I certainly don't think we were at our best.
"It was an edgy game and I think a scrappy 0-0 would have been a fairer result."
Norwich winger Matt Jarvis went down when challenged by Damien Delaney in the first half and the visiting players were incensed when a penalty was not awarded.
"Matt was adamant it was a penalty," said Neill. "Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't.
"I think the magnitude of the game meant the referee had to be 100 per cent spot-on to give it."
Another concern for Neil on a difficult day was that defender Timm Klose had to be stretchered off with a knee injury in the first half, but the manager added: "We'll be really hopeful it's not going to be too bad."
Next up for Norwich is a potentially pivotal match at home to relegation rivals Sunderland next Saturday.
And Neil added: "[This loss] just means the next game is more important now.
"If we had got a result today, that would have changed things going into the next one.
"However, the next game's importance was always going to be huge. The game today doesn't change that."
