To mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Croydon Advertiser published a series of features examining the state of violence in the home within the borough of Croydon. In a follow-up piece penned for the Advertiser, Croydon Council leader Tony Newman pledges the authority will keep fighting against the problem of abuse in the home...

RACHEL Slack, Maria Stubbings, Katie Summers, Casey Brittle, Clare Wood – young women who should now be in the prime of their lives.

Instead, all have, in recent years, lost those lives as a direct result of the hate crime that is domestic violence. Many other women, as the excellent coverage of this difficult subject in the Croydon Advertiser highlights, have suffered horrific experiences but have escaped with their lives and are now looking to better and more secure futures.

Our Labour administration in Croydon made it clear when we took office in June that tackling the ever-increasing number of reported cases of domestic violence and abuse would be one of the council's top priorities – and it is.

That is why we are committing to becoming a White Ribbon borough and we will be formally launching this on International Day Against Violence Against Women on November 25.

White Ribbon status will formally recognise that Croydon is making the tackling of domestic violence one of the key borough-wide priorities.

I am proud that it was a previous Labour administration that put in place Europe's first Family Justice Centre (FJC), in 2005. This is where all the public services – such as the police, NHS, social services and others – are under one roof.

So, as part of our journey to achieving White Ribbon status, we will launch more education programmes within our schools, and ensure that everyone who works in public services, such as the NHS and police, are trained to the very highest standards in terms of spotting the symptoms of domestic violence.

The ongoing increases in incidents of domestic violence in Croydon are completely unacceptable, so it is time to collectively redouble our efforts and ensure we are the generation that says loudly and clearly: "Enough is enough."

If you need help or advice, call: 24-hour domestic violence helpline – 080 8200 0247 Croydon Family Justice Centre – 0208 688 0100.

OUR latest round-up of what Croydon's Twitter users have been saying on the social media site...

@tomblackuk: Very excited about this: a new art gallery, right in the heart of Croydon. The shape of things to come

@JordanJoice: In IKEA Croydon. Lots of couples arguing eating 60p hot dogs.

@UpperTierSteve: Two women on the tram talking about their boyfriend's parole dates. #romantic #croydon

@Oliver_James: Just saw a head-on collision between two cars in Croydon, a tram then gently pushed the cars aside like a child bored with its toys.

@greencroydon: So typical in #Croydon yesterday. Had a Friends of Wandle Park meeting in the cafe and one person turned up with a sheep.Like you do.

@ArfurZTowcrate: When @CroydonTories were selling off bits of our #Riesco collection it was "a responsible use of the borough's assets2... when @croydonlabour sell off a golf course, @CroydonTories say it's "absolutely outrageous".

@DapperDan: Got on a train at Sutton to go to West Croydon & I find myself in Epsom Downs. Thanks @SouthernRailUK and your completely inept staff

@KaiserJonny: Is everyone getting a High Speed rail link now? Can I have one from Purley to Fulham Broadway?

@beckyclark83: This morning I found out the Thornton Heath Wetherspoons is named after the only British woman to bear arms in WW1

Palace fan and online columnist for the Advertiser, Benjamin Watts, preview tonight's clash with Sunderland at Selhurst Park...

Monday night is a huge game for both sides.

Palace come into the match having squandered a two-goal half time lead at the Hawthorns last weekend. Before that draw with West Brom, they lost two Premier League matches on the bounce, 1-2 at home to Chelsea and away to Hull City.

As for Sunderland, Gus Poyet's men have become masters of their own downfall in recent weeks.

The Black Cats were totally overrun by Ronald Koeman's rampant Southampton side at St Mary's, before they self-destructed once again last weekend at home to Arsenal by gifting two goals on a plate to Alexis Sanchez.

Subsequently both managers will know the importance of getting a result at Selhurst Park. Eagles fans will probably remember the respective fixture from last season – Palace conquered by three goals to one, thanks to a Dwight Gayle penalty and a Stuart O'Keefe wonder goal, after Danny Gabbidon and Steven Fletcher strikes had initially put the teams on a level footing.

That game was Ian Holloway's first and only Premier League with Palace.

New boss Neil Warnock has already bettered that thanks to a home win against Leicester and an away triumph at Everton.

However, having lost to West Ham and Chelsea at home – as well as a goalless draw with Burnley which could have so easily ended in defeat were it not for Julian Speroni's heroic save from Scott Arfield's spot-kick – Warnock will be wanting to capitalise on Sunderland's recent mishaps and begin making Selhurst a fortress once again; as it was under Tony Pulis last season.

Scott Dann remains a doubt for the Eagles, having missed the last two matches with a knee injury.

It is worth noting that in Dann's absence, Palace have conceded six goals in three matches (including Hull when Dann went off after twelve minutes), shipping precisely two a game. That is a record Warnock will want to put right.

Damien Delaney is back in contention after serving his one-match suspension, while James McArthur could feature if he recovers from his hip injury.

If McArthur is fit, Warnock must also decide whether to play a flat five across the midfield or whether to retain Marouane Chamakh in his starting eleven.

The only other area of contention whether or not Julian Speroni will start, after his head injury against West Brom. If required, Wayne Hennessey is a more than worthy replacement.

With difficult matches against a resurgent Manchester United and a home fixture against Liverpool coming up, this is surely a must-win game for Palace.

The record books are on our side though – Palace have beaten Sunderland in each of their last four meetings at SE25. Let's hope Warnock's boys can add a fifth on Monday night.

UPPER Norwood Library will be able to open for five days a week again after receiving a funding boost of almost £50,000 for this year.

Croydon Council has pledged an additional £47,500 for the past six months, matching the amount of money provided by its counterpart in Lambeth.

Croydon has also pledged to match Lambeth's funding over the next four years.

The library, in Westow Hill, has had to reduce its service to three days a week in recent years but will now be able to open for five.

Robert Gibson, co-chairman of the Upper Norwood Library Trust (UNLT), said: "This is recognition of how important it is to the local community. We had 2,000 consultation documents when it looked as if it was going to be sold off."

Mr Gibson gave special thanks to Upper Norwood councillor Pat Ryan for his passionate support of the library.

He said the plan is to have the library provide a wider range of services, including somewhere people can apply for benefits.

Mr Gibson said: "Part of what the council likes about our model is that we run it ourselves. The new council are more into their bottom-up provision and we want to make this into a community hub as it were.

"We will have falling literacy standards if something isn't done to protect our libraries."

Labour made the restored funding one of its main pledges in Upper Norwood in the run-up to this year's council election.

Councillor Timothy Godfrey, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said: "We are passionate about ensuring Upper Norwood Library is a vibrant community hub which clearly has popular local support."

The previous Conservative administration in Croydon cut its funding to £70,000, while Lambeth is this year supporting the library to the tune of £180,000.

As well as a reduction in opening hours, there were also five redundancies, meaning there were only 12 staff left.

Mr Gibson added: "For more than 100 years Croydon and Lambeth have jointly funded our unique independent library which serves all of Crystal Palace, including over 19,000 Croydon residents."

CRYSTAL Palace club captain Paddy McCarthy has been urged to stay with loan club Sheffield United after his loan expired last weekend.

Blades boss Nigel Clough is expected to hold takes with the player and Eagles manager Neil Warnock about extending the deal until January.

And United defender Jay McEveley hopes the centre-back returns to partner him at the back.

"We're all hoping that Paddy decides to come back because he's a quality player," he told the Sheffield Star.

"You've seen that with his performances out there on the pitch. I know he's got a few things to consider first and that's completely understandable.

"I know that Paddy has really enjoyed himself here over the past few weeks. His performances have reflected that because, if you're not happy, then you can't do as well as he's been out there on the pitch.

"It's important that you make sure new people here feel welcome. Paddy has fitted in really well and is one of the lads in the dressing room behind the scenes."

However, Clough has admitted following last Saturday's defeat to Barnsley that United's involvement in the FA Cup Johnstone's Paint Trophy may delay completing a second deal.

"A lot will depend on whether we get permission to play Paddy in the Cup," he said.

"The Doncaster Rovers game in the league after that is in doubt because of international call-ups. So it could be three weeks until our next league game. That's something we've also got to factor in."

"Paddy, though, knows we want him to stay. Neil has been superb with everything and we'll sit down and have a good chat with Paddy."

Sunderland are set to wear a one-off strip for tonight's game with Crystal Palace, after both their home and away kits clashed with the Eagles.

Palace play in red and blue - which is the same as the Black Cats' shirt colours (home - red) and (away - blue).

According to rumours, the all-white strip will not be available to buy for Sunderland fans.

It's not the first time drastic action has been utilised with kits at Selhurst Park.

Just two seasons ago, in April 2013, Barnsley turned up in south London with home and away kits that clashed with Palace, forcing the Tykes to wear Palace's yellow away shirts.

A LARGE fire broke out in flats above the Tesco Express in South Norwood Hill this morning. London Ambulance Service and contingency fire crews attended the scene at around 9.10am and had the fire under control by about 10am. Flames and thick smoke were billowing from the top of the building and one man was checked at the scene although he was not taken to hospital. Around 20 people were evacuated from the building of new flats. Croydon's firefighters are currently on a four day strike but a contingency crew attended to tackle the fire. Road closures were place in South Norwood Hill and Portland Road while buses were also diverted. The Tesco Express - opposite Stanley Halls - only opened earlier this year.

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

CRYSTAL Palace co-chairman Steve Parish has, ahead of tonight's game with Sunderland, reiterated the Eagles are not close to being taken over by new owners.

Reports in the media have suggested in the last ten days that American billionaire Josh Harris has agreed to buy Palace and generate large funds for the January transfer window.

Parish, writing in his matchday programme notes, admitted the club's board have been approached by interested parties before and also held talks.

Whether they have done with Harris and his representatives is unknown, but the supremo says he will always look out for the best interests of Palace in the long term.

Parish said: "Over the last seven days there has been a lot of speculation surrounding the ownership of this football club.

"As for anything being imminent I can assure you that we are certainly not close to being in a position of announcing any changes.

"It is not helpful if every single time we talk to interested parties or individuals that it gets out to the media but I have to accept that this kind of thing does happen through whatever means.

"I can assure you that there have also been many times where we have held discussions and it has remained private.

"This club is part of the biggest league in the world, we get approaches from many interested parties and as I have I always said as a group of owners we will consider everything and look at whatever is in the best long-term interests of this club."

BUSINESS owners in South End have criticised the £3 million refurbishment of the Restaurant Quarter as a poorly finished flood risk.

The works started in March with disruption causing businesses to suffer as takings dropped over the summer peak season.

And now the works are almost finished, a number of businesses are unhappy and fear they have been left vulnerable to flooding.

Alfonso Camisotti, president of the South Croydon Business Association, said: "It has been very expensive and disruptive with poor design, poor management and extremely poor materials."

He said "low standard" materials were used for the works and the pavement was already stained and cracked just months after it was laid.

Mr Camisotti, who has run the Audio Centre Croydon on South End since 1971, has written to the Mayor of London outlining his concerns. He also said kerbs on the street have crumbled after lorries and cars have driven over them, notably at the corners of Spices Yard car park.

Mr Camisotti is also concerned the works have left the street likely to flood, with water pooling in various places along the street.

And he is not the only one with concerns. Pat Mohan, head teacher at Croydon Metropolitan College on South End, fears his college will flood after the kerb outside was taken away during the works.

Mr Mohan said: "This is an issue for us as we have experienced flooding in the past and it is clear this will happen again if the pavements are left the same level as the road, as they are now."

He added the pavement next to the college's gate had been left unfinished and unattractive, and a paving slab which cracked had been removed and replaced with tarmac. "It does not look great as it is outside of the front of the college," he said.

Not everyone is unhappy though. Anthony Waldbaum, a retired architect, has lived in South Croydon for more than 30 years and is a member of the South Croydon Community Association (SCCA) committee.

Mr Waldbaum thinks the refurbishment will improve the street, but he said communication from the council during the works could have been better.

He said: "There has been public consultation but I think it was the minimum required. There are small niggling things which they may well be addressing but until I talk to them I don't know."

A council spokesman said road improvement works will be finished by the end of November but they will return in the new year to fix any defects.

In response to concerns regarding flooding and the cracked, stained pavement, he said: "We are confident the improved layout and enhanced design will resolve any draining issues.

"Residents and traders can rest assured these [cracks and stains] are being attended to."

The Restaurant Quarter revamp includes work to widen pavements and resurface roads in Selsdon Road, and £50,000 of work to improve 46 building fronts by March 2015.

The council will also be planting 16 trees, and adding seating and cycle parking.

THE owner and head chef of an Indian restaurant in South Croydon, voted tenth best in the UK, has vowed to make it the best in the world.

Manoj Karnavar, of Karnavar, said "we are on our way", after the the result of the TripAdvisor poll, carried out for for National Curry Week (October 13 to 19).

Manoj, 42, plans for the restaurant, on South End, to be top in the UK in two years, and best in the world in five, despite having only opened in March.

The chef, who has worked in hotels around the world, has been cooking professionally for 25 years.

As a child growing up in Kerala, he helped his mother and grandmother in the kitchen. He said: "Cooking is a way of life."

Manoj moved to England 11 years ago after working in Dubai and Goa.

He has lived in Croydon for ten years, and said: "Croydon has a lot of potential. The local people have given us immense support."

The restaurant is one of 200 Indian establishments in Croydon.

Manoj also praised his staff, saying "I have a wonderful team here."

He believes the secret to his success is the care that goes into each dish.

"If everything in the dish is not perfect, then the dish is not perfect," he said. "It's not good enough if people say 'the food is nice', I want to exceed people's expectations."

Saran Rajendran, the restaurant's manager, added: "There is something for everyone at Karnavar, we treat everyone like a king or queen or a VIP."

However, Saran and Manoj do not have a favourite dish. "Manoj created a menu of 200 dishes, which we scrutinised down to the best 30," said Saran. "Every dish is our favourite."

The first three months after opening were very difficult, as few people knew about the restaurant, but success came after they won a national newcomer award.

Now they are fully booked almost every Friday and Saturday, and Manoj has plans to go to the next level.

"We are going to polish our dishes and train our staff," he said. "We have a couple of surprises coming. Wait and see."

A 13-year-old boy who burgled a family home has become Sutton's youngest person to get an ASBO.

Croydon Youth Court handed out the punishment on October 21, after the youth was found guilty of burgling the home in Collingwood Road, Sutton, on July 26, when he stole cash, bank cards, camera, mobile phone, e-reader and games console.

A driving licence taken in the burglary was also stolen but later found in a local park and returned to its owner.

In addition to the ASBO, the boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was made subject to a youth rehabilitation order, with a curfew, and told to pay a victim surcharge of £15.

The terms of the ASBO prohibit the boy from entering the Benhill estate, carrying a lighter or any devices that could be used to start a fire, associating with four other named youths, unless in school, and being in a public place with three or more people, unless accompanied by family or taking part in a school activity.

Breaching the order would mean he may get a fine and/or up to two years in prison.

The youngster may also be among the last in the UK to get a criminal ASBO, since government reforms replaced it with the Criminal Behaviour Order the day before his sentencing. However, because the case paperwork for the hearing started before the reforms became effective, the court issued him with an ASBO.

Sgt Graham Rice, who heads up Sutton's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, said his officers were targeting groups of young people who are causing harassment, alarm or distress in local communities and act together to intimidate members of the public.

"If you belong to a group who cause anti-social behaviour we will come after you. We won't tolerate this sort of behaviour and we will act to do whatever we can to protect residents."

Sgt Rice added: "We want residents to report anti-social behaviour. The more information we have, and the more support we have from residents, then the more we can take action against groups of youths who cause misery in their local communities."

Anti-social behaviour can be reported to police on 101.

A "BRAZEN" scrap metal dealer found guilty of taking in stolen metal, including crematorium plaques which he cut up into pieces to disguise them, has been sentenced to 15 months in jail.

Joseph Collier, 72, of Woodhall Drive, Dulwich, was given the sentence at Isleworth Crown Court this morning (Monday) after he was found guilty on October 1 at Croydon Crown Court.

Police raided Collier's DSM Scrap Metal Yard in Bensham Lane, Croydon in May 2012 after a tip-off from Croydon Trading Standards officers, where they discovered a stolen bronze dragon and a statue of Jesus.

They also found several bags and boxes containing hundreds of memorial plaques that had been stolen from cemeteries across the south east, some marked with SmartWater - a liquid that has a unique forensic 'code' that allows police to trace their origin.

Officers from Croydon then spent several hours painstakingly piecing the plaques back together to help trace them.

They also found CCTV footage showing Collier overseeing the cutting up of the plaques - which he claimed at court he had no knowledge of.

View Collier's own CCTV footage below:

In March 2013, police, who were suspicious Collier was continuing to receive stolen goods while on bail before his trial, and UK Power Networks staged an undercover operation where an officer sold copper wiring to him - stamped with UK Power Networks - making it obvious to Collier the goods were stolen as he was accepting it.

After the sentencing, Sergeant George Shannon, who led the investigation, said: "I can only describe Collier's attitude throughout this whole process as brazen. He tried to deny any knowledge of receiving stolen items, but some of the memorial plaques even had the mud and wall plugs attached where they'd been prized from the graves.

"There was little doubt that he knew they were stolen and he had absolutely no regard for the law.

"His actions, in accepting stolen metal, have fuelled other criminal activity by thieves stealing metal to make a quick profit by selling it to unscrupulous scrap dealers like Collier.

"Metal theft has a huge impact on society - be it through delays on train networks or power cuts where cabling has been stolen, or the emotional effects associated with the theft of memorial plaques.

"The majority of registered scrap metal dealers are operating correctly, but we will continue to target those who don't and will bring the full force of the law against them.

"He will now be behind bars for several months and the next phase of our investigation will be looking at action we can take under the Proceeds of Crime Act to confiscate any assets Collier has gained through his criminal activity."

Footage of police officers discovering the stolen crematorium plaques:

Collier was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for possession of the stolen memorial plaques.

He also received three months for possession of a stolen bronze dragon statue, possession of a stolen statue of Christ and for disguising criminal property, all to be served concurrently.

He was given an additional three months for attempting to receive stolen goods.

CRYSTAL Palace fanzine editor and Advertiser columnist ROBERT SUTHERLAND isn't keen on the recent takeover talk in SE25...

Speculation is rife that Crystal Palace are subject to a takeover bid from American billionaire Josh Harris, an individual well-versed in how to run sports businesses. And this speculation leaves me a little cold. Let me explain why.

To me, Crystal Palace have been a team that, under CPFC2010, prides itself on doing things differently. An example of how to be frugal and yet relatively successful. A team that challenges the status quo of Premier League billionaire plaything success stories, a side that smiles in the face of hedge funds and international investments and says, 'No thanks.' A team that's South London AND proud.

Selling to an investor like Harris just makes us another faceless Premier League entity. It doesn't rip the core out of the club - the club is its fans after all - but to see our four London owners potentially sell up, it just feels wrong.

Of course, the other side to the coin is that a billionaire owner will bring major, much-needed change to the club's infrastructure. The stadium development might finally kick off in earnest. The club could become the size that many of its previous owners have suggested it should be. The potential we've all talked about could finally be met.

But at what cost? I guess that after two administrations in quick succession, it could be argued that we as supporters shouldn't be principled when it comes to the potential to further secure the club's future. But as a fan who vehemently disagrees with the direction that English football has taken - from the billions thrown at it, to the talk of taking Premier League games abroad - I can't just suddenly change my mind because Palace might be another of those clubs.

Palace are a club proud of their South London roots. A large part of its identity is based on having owners from South London. Owners who understand what the club has been through - people who have suffered the lows and cheered the highs.

Is it too much to ask that a club proud of its South London origins have owners who know what it means to be a Palace fan?

In the name or progress, I guess not. I understand why the owners would consider selling up, and I will always be thankful for what they have achieved over the last few years. But it still feels like a betrayal of what we are.

South London and Proud, indeed. 

By Mark Ritson at Selhurst Park

CRYSTAL Palace fell to a disappointing 3-1 defeat at home to Sunderland this evening and now sit one place above the relegation zone on goal difference after ten games played so far this season.

It was a night to forget for Neil Warnock and his side, with his side failing to really test visiting goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

Steven Fletcher gave Sunderland the lead before wrapping up the points either side of Jordi Gomez's clean striker.

Palace equalised when Wes Brown turned the ball into his own net, and they did enjoy decent spells forcing Sunderland back but without converting.

Mile Jedinak was sent off towards the end before Fletcher grabbed his second goal, too.

The Eagles should have been given a penalty inside the opening 25 seconds when Fraizer Campbell burst into the box and as he was about to shoot, Santiago Vergini clearly tripped his leg yet referee Phil Dowd wasn't convinced.

However, television replays clearly showed the defender didn't get any of the ball. It was a huge let-off for the visitors.

Palace went up a gear and Wilfried Zaha fired in two dangerous crosses from the right, with Marouane Chamakh mis-controlling the first and then the second was a few inches too high for Fraizer Campbell.

The pressure kept coming from the Eagles, pinning the Black Cats back in their own half, and a corner routine from Yannick Bolasie nearly found Mile Jedinak getting in front of his marker.

There was only one team in it inside the opening 25 minutes, with Sunderland rather poor and offering very little.

But then out of nothing they took the lead through Steven Fletcher on the half-hour mark. The striker pulled away from his marker and planted a powerful downward header from 12 yards into the bottom corner.

The goal ended a run of five hours and six minutes without an away goal in the Premier League for the visitors.

Fletcher had another go shortly after which Julian Speroni did well to parry, but the goal really did knock the rhythm and stuffing out of the Eagles, with a rather flat response heading into the break.

Sunderland went close to doubling their lead on the stroke of half-time when Vergini was in acres of space and his effort was superbly parried by Speroni to his left.

But the Eagles had enough penalty shout turned down when Zaha looked to have been brought down just inside the box from Patrick van Aanholt, but again Dowd wasn't having any of it.

And the defender, as a result of his challenge, was stretched off and taken to hospital with a dislocated shoulder.

Palace started the second half brightly, with Zaha's goal-bound shot deflecting off Wes Brown for a corner.

And after further pressure they finally levelled thanks to an own goal by Brown.

Chamakh's downward header was superbly stopped right in the line by goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, Campbell played the ball back across and it cannoned off the former Manchester United man and in via the near post.

The Eagles continued to mount pressure on the visitors, with Zaha in the thick of the action in particular and also forcing a flying save from Pantilimon.

Jason Puncheon came on for Chamakh with 14 minutes remaining, but Sunderland stunned south London when they regained their lead ten minutes remaining.

Jordi Gomez got it, drilling a shot from just outside the box into the bottom corner to beat Speroni in front of the Holmesdale.

And to make matters worse, Palace were reduced to ten men in the final stages when Jedinak was shown a second yellow for a foul in the middle of the park.

With five minutes added on, the hosts threw men forward in search of an equaliser but with the danger of being exposed on the break.

But whenever they could, Sunderland wound down the clock as Palace began to run out of steam.

And on the counter, they wrapped up the points when Puncheon lost the ball and Sunderland broke, with the ball falling to Fletcher on the edge of the box and he did the rest to compound a miserable night for the south Londoners.

Jedinak also misses Saturday's trip to Old Trafford too.

Palace: Speroni, Kelly, Hangeland (Gayle 84), Dann, Ward, Jedinak, Ledley, Zaha, Bolasie, Chamakh (Puncheon 76), Campbell.

Subs Not Used: Hennessey, Mariappa, Bannan, McArthur, Doyle.

Referee: Phil Dowd

CRYSTAL Palace manager Neil Warnock was again left frustrated with the performance of a top flight referee, after his side lost 3-1 to Sunderland.

TV pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher on Sky both agreed the Eagles should have had a penalty inside the first minute, when Fraizer Campbell appeared to be brought down in the area by Santiago Vergini.

However Phil Dowd - who later sent Mile Jedinak off for two bookable offences - waved play on.

This follows Mark Clattenburg's failure to award Palace a clear spot kick against West Brom last weekend, for a foul on Wilfried Zaha.

Warnock, speaking after the game on Sky Sports, said: "We need a bit of luck at the minute. The only chance we've got of a penalty is somebody picking the ball up and throwing it at the referee.

 "I think everybody knows it's a penalty. The referee didn't see it, but he's in a great position."

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

CRYSTAL Palace skipper Mile Jedinak insists the better team lost on Monday night at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles fell to a 3-1 defeat against Sunderland but did have bright spells during the contest, yet they could not convert any opportunities or indeed test Costel Pantilimon in the Sunderland goal as much as they'd wanted.

Jedinak was happy with Palace's play despite the final result and was disappointed not to take at least a point.

"I thought we gave them two soft goals but apart from that I thought we were good," he said.

"There only looked like one team winning it, but two sucker punch goals caught us and we weren't able to recover after the second.

"There are positives to take. I thought our tempo was brilliant, we pinned them in and a lot of the football was played in their half.

"From the outset it was what we were after – they looked like a team who were down a little bit.

"It's just disappointing to not come away with anything, especially at home and in front of our fans."

Jedinak was sent off late on for a second bookable offence and now he misses the trip to face Manchester United on Saturday.

However, the 30-year-old has faith in whoever comes in for him and also the squad coping at Old Trafford.

"There is no point crying about the result, we have another game in five days' time and everyone has got to be ready and prepared," he said.

"It's an opportunity now for someone to step in (for me) and whoever is fit needs to be ready.

"I think the boys will give themselves a good account of themselves at Old Trafford on Saturday, I have no doubt about that."

Palace looked like they should have been given a stonewall penalty inside 25 seconds, after Fraizer Campbell seemed to have been brought down by Santiago Vergini.

And in the second half, Wilfried Zaha looked to have been felled inches inside the right side of the box.

But referee Phil Dowd refused to give a spot-kick on both occasions – and Jedinak was left to rue the decisions.

"I thought they were both pretty clear, so there's not a lot I'm going to comment on," he said.

"He (the referee) made those decisions and unfortunately we have to get the brunt of them.

"It was unfortunate for both times."