Crystal Palace boss Paul Hart was left to rue two refereeing decisions come full-time, as his team suffered their second successive defeat in the Championship.

After going in at the break behind, Clint Hill responded with a headed equaliser on the hour mark. Having brought the proceedings level Hart felt his team were victims of some indifferent decisions, albeit assisted by some poor defending.

"We hold our hands up, our defending of two goals could have been better. We were not awarded a blatant penalty against Stern John and I am a bit of a loss to know how he (the official) missed it. Stern was being pulled down on his left shoulder and he even attempted a scissor kick as he could not get up to head the ball. If he had not been pulled then he would have scored with his head.

"For their second goal they were given a free kick after Neil Danns had the ball battered at him from a yard and was adjudged to have handballed it. He was turning away from the ball. I was in a better position than the officials and I don't know why they gave it.

"Admittedly we should have defended the 40 yard ball into the box, which allowed them to score, the lads are very disappointed with that."

Paddy McCarthy was just one of a handful of Eagles players who played through the pain barrier and Hart felt the supporters acknowledged that in their standing ovations at both at the break and the end of the game.

"This club is a very good club. The player know that the supporters are behind them. When they see them standing and clapping them they know that the fans ackowledge they are giving their all and getting behind them. They are disappointed and angry in the dressing room as they felt they could have got something from this game."

Despite the defeat, Hart remained confident that the club can overcome the current position they find themselves in.

"We have got a good bunch of professionals here and if they can carry on playing the way they did today then we will win football matches between now and the end of the season."

Having been in a similar plight with Porstmouth when they were on the brink of relegation last season, Hart believes he is the right man to get the Eagles out of the bottom three come May.

"We don't need a manager who is ranting and raving, that comes when you are further up the table. We have changed our system and worked on that in training. We have worked on attacking set pieces and scored a goal through one today. We prepare well, train properly and everything is geared to maintaining this club's Championship status.