Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew bemoans penalty decisions after defeat to Manchester United

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has blamed referee Michael Oliver for the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United after two penalty decisions went against his side at Selhurst Park.

Juan Mata opened the scoring in the first half from the spot when Ashley Young's cross was handled by Scott Dann

And asked about the referee decision after the game, Pardew said: "I'm a bit aggrieved about the penalty, obviously,"

"I think from the referee's angle it's a real tough call for us. "Scott Dann does gesture with his body but he's away from the referee. From the referee's angle he can't be sure that it hit his arm. I spoke to [Michael Oliver] after the game and he said he just went with his gut feeling that it was a penalty. I think it was a really tough call."

Pardew's side managed to hit back through Jason Puncheon's free-kick but Marouane Fellaini grabbed the winning goal for United with 12 minutes left to put his side within one win of securing Champions League qualification.

Palace felt aggrieved late on when Puncheon was felled by Mata only for Oliver to wave away appeals for the penalty

"I mentioned that to [the referee] as well because I think if you're going to give penalties on the basis of the first one then the second one," Pardew explained.

"I think there has been a number of times this year where we have had cast-iron penalties and the referee has waved play on. I think that has been a problem for us in the first half of the season.

"He has given a penalty that for me he cannot be sure about, it's a 60/40 or 70/30 call depending on your view and the Puncheon one is the same as well."