Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner described the penalty awarded to Manchester United in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat as an “Old Trafford bonus”, arguing the decision turned the match.
Palace had led at half-time before the game shifted following a second-half incident involving Maxence Lacroix and Matheus Cunha.
Lacroix was initially penalised for pulling back the United forward, with referee Chris Kavanagh upgrading the decision to a red card after a VAR review.
Glasner did not dispute the possibility of a foul but insisted the contact began outside the penalty area and should not have resulted in a spot-kick.
“There are a few different situations to judge but it still feels like it’s the wrong decision,” he said.
“It’s not a penalty, maybe a red card for a foul outside the box. But the foul starts outside the box. It’s maybe a little bit the Old Trafford bonus.”
Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot to level the match before Benjamin Sesko struck for the third consecutive game to secure victory for United.
The result marked a sixth win in seven matches under head coach Michael Carrick and lifted the club into third place in the Premier League table.
Carrick praised his players’ response after trailing at the break.
“It’s the biggest thing for us to take from the game, really,” he said. “It’s the first time that we’ve been in that situation going in at half-time.
“I thought we were a little bit off to start with. I think they started particularly well, so credit to them.
“At half-time it was about being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and the belief.
“Football is tough at times and this league is tough, so you’re never always going to have it your own way, but to then come back like we did in the second half and turn the game in our favour is the biggest thing for me to take from today for sure.”
United’s victory sees them move above Aston Villa into third in the Premier League table, while Palace remain 14th.
