Pardew fury at referee as Gayle farce blows Palace off
YOU’D be wise to steer clear of Dwight Gayle for the next day or so.
The Crystal Palace striker cost his team dear with two of the most irrational decisions you are likely to see on a football pitch as West Ham climbed to third.
Having picked up a booking for needlessly going through the back of Dimitri Payet in the 32nd minute, Gayle was sent off for an equally rash tackle on Cheikou Kouyate just before half-time to leave Palace with 10 men.
Clearly embarrassed, Gayle pulled his shirt over his head as he trudged off. So how must he have felt at full time as two late goals from Manuel Lanzini and Payet secured West Ham victory after a heroic backs-to-the-wall effort from his teammates?
‘He [Gayle] has to learn from it,’ said manager Alan Pardew.
‘Possibly the enthusiasm got the better of him, I will speak to Dwight. It’s tough to take. He is a young player and wants to do well, he was disappointed.’
Nevertheless, the Palace manager still questioned referee Mark Clattenburg’s decision to give Gayle his marching orders
‘The first tackle is bad, the second one he missed the ball by a small amount. I think the referee was hasty in giving him the second one,’ insisted Pardew.
‘It means we are down to 10 men and the boy misses one game because of suspension. Does it warrant all that?
Not that the rights or wrongs of Gayle’s red card concerned Slaven Bilic, whose team stormed into the Champions League places with victory at Selhurst Park.
The Hammers had to be patient, though as they toiled to break down Palace until Lanzini hit the winner with two minutes left.