Paul Hart felt the recent busy schedule for his players was one of the reasons behind his first defeat as Palace boss.

"I thought as good as we were on Saturday, we were equally as bad tonight. We looked a bit weary, which is understandable with what the players have had to put up with and what they have gone through.

"But you do know they have got it well within them to bounce back. We have to recover properly, rest and get ready for the next one."

The objectives for the rest of the season are clear for everyone to see and Paul was quick to explain to his players that nothing is going to change.

"I have just said to them in the dressing room, 'look this is us, there's no more coming in and there is definitely no-one going so it is me and you and that's it, that's what we have got'. I said we have got seven weeks and there's three that go down, so if you finish fourth bottom you have achieved.

"In mid-season when you get thrown with a points deduction like that it is a real kick on the nether regions. They have had to cope with it and it's not always easy - even for strong players like ours."

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