PALACE boss Dougie Freedman was left disappointed by the conduct of Sheffield Wednesday’s players after a controversial refereeing decision sparked ugly scenes at Selhurst Park.

In the closing stages with the game finely poised at 1-1, Glenn Murray was put through on goal by Wilfried Zaha.

As Murray set himself to shoot, Owls defender Mark Beevers slid in to nick the ball from the Palace forward who fell to the ground.

Referee Rob Lewis immediately pointed to the spot and Owen Garvan put the ball down.

The Wednesday players, however, were left furious and led by Chris Kirkland, raced over to the linesman to remonstrate.

Referee Lewis went over, seemingly to regain order, but was then seen to be having a conversation with his assistant and to the amazement of the Selhurst Park faithful, reversed his decision.

Freedman said: “We all make mistakes, right and wrong, but what I’m disappointed in is the nine or ten Sheffield Wednesday players who surrounded the referee until he changed his mind.

“The last thing I was told was that if that was the case, you would be booked straight away.”

Owls boss Dave Jones felt the referee’s decision handed the impetus to the home side.

He fumed: “It was a high-intensity game, they’re struggling and they need points so it was always going to be whipped up but I didn’t expect them three to get involved as well.

“The whole atmosphere changed around the place and that was down to him.

“I’m not on about him getting it right because we weren’t going to stop until he’d changed his mind, and he did brilliantly to make the right decision in the end, but he changed the complexion of the game.

“It’s put us on the back foot whereas we were well and truly on the front foot prior to that incident.

“Every time we made a challenge their fans are screaming for free-kicks and penalties. It’s a difficult enough place to come without giving them a helping hand and that’s what he has done.”

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