Monday 2 March 2015 23:03, UK
Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew says he was just about to substitute two-goal hero Glenn Murray when the striker was sent off during the second half of their 3-1 victory over West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday.
Murray was shown his second yellow card by referee Mike Dean in the 69th minute after a tangle with Winston Reid, just six minutes after scoring Palace’s third goal of the afternoon in East London.
Pardew described Murray as having a ‘mixed afternoon,’ as Palace claimed another three points in their battle to avoid relegation.
Pardew said of Murray: "He showed the qualities of a centre-forward with his movement.
“He could have had a hat-trick in the first half, we only had three or four chances and he had them all.
"The first goal was a great header from the corner, we got a bit of fortune from that, but his other goal was typical of him knowing where to be and he dispatched it.
"The sending-off was a little bit unlucky because I was literally subbing him for Shola (Ameobi) at that stage and he had to go for that in the box. I don't think (Winston) Reid helped if I'm honest.
"But I think the ref would have sent him off anyway. So a mixed afternoon but I'm absolutely delighted with him because I think it's a harsh sending-off and he's not really meant to hurt anybody today. He was terrific."
Murray, who will now miss Tuesday's clash with Southampton through suspension, admitted he was guilty of a number of "stupid fouls" in the lead up to his dismissal.
"Obviously it's great to get a couple of goals but I'm disappointed to get sent off, it was just a reaction and I think the referee was almost waiting to send me off after a few stupid fouls," he told Sky Sports.
"I gave him that option and he took it. We spoke about it at half-time - 'don't make a challenge' - and I managed not to outside the box but it was just a reaction inside the box unfortunately.
"He just said there'd been a few niggly little fouls and he'd kept having to stop the game so he'd said: 'no more'."
