Premier League: Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak frustrated by recent refereeing decisions

Mile Jedinak says Crystal Palace’s players are finding it difficult to accept the recent refereeing decisions which have gone against the club.

The Eagles' skipper was sent off in the 3-1 reverse to Sunderland on Monday night after seeing his side have two legitimate penalty claims waved away by referee Phil Dowd.

Santiago Vergini was lucky to avoid conceding a first-minute penalty when he brought down Fraizer Campbell, with Patrick van Aanholt tangling with Wilfried Zaha in what could have been easily given as a spot-kick.

Steven Fletcher put the Black Cats ahead before the break and, despite Palace drawing level courtesy of a Wes Brown own goal, Jordi Gomez and Fletcher struck either side of Jedinak's red card to seal a second Barclays Premier League win of the campaign.

"I think we gave them two soft goals," said Jedinak. "Apart from that I thought we were really good.

"I think they (the penalty claims) were both pretty clear to be honest with you, so, there's not a lot I'm going to comment on in that sense, but he (Dowd) made both decisions and we have taken the brunt of them. It was unfortunate - both times.

"It's disappointing when you don't receive the decisions and particularly so early on, particularly when you're on top.

“You're not going to cry over that, but when they are that obvious it's a little bit difficult."

Apology

The defeat saw Palace drop to 17th in the table, with only a better goal record keeping Neil Warnock's side outside of the relegation zone.

It's disappointing when you don't receive the decisions and particularly so early on, particularly when you're on top.

The 65-year-old revealed after the match that Jedinak had apologised for his sending off, which rules him out of Saturday’s trip to Manchester United, and labelled the two bookings as "silly".

"He (Dowd) decided to give me a yellow on the first one which for whatever reason, the second one I got caught in him, it looked like he was right behind me and he's deemed it a yellow card," added Jedinak.

"I've got to accept that now, I'm disappointed within myself to be missing the game and not being a part (of it) with the boys on Saturday.

"We've got a game in five days' time, everybody has got to be ready and prepared. It's an opportunity for somebody else to step in and whoever is fit and available to be ready and I think the boys are going to give a good account of themselves. I have no doubt about that."