DISAPPOINTED WARNOCK PRAISES PLAYERS

Warnock - trying to stay positive.

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock praised his players after his side were reduced to nine men but still managed to earn a point with a 0-0 draw against Burnley at Selhurst Park.

James Scowcroft and Shaun Derry were both sent off for receiving two yellow cards in an otherwise drab Coca-Cola Championship match.

Burnley went into the game looking for their first point of the season, while Palace have yet to score in the league.

But Warnock was encouraged by his side's battling performance and said: "I am proud of my players today. To restrict Burnley like that with only nine men was impressive.

"Everyone knows we need a striker and by Monday week, I hope to have one and then the season will take off.

"I think my players showed what they had under their shirts and we restricted them at the back.

"I can't fault any of my players - I'm just disappointed we did not manage to get the three points."

The first half did little to suggest that either of these sides have the capability of improving on last season's achievements.

It was scrappy at the best of times and lacked clear-cut chances. Nick Carle's scuffed effort drew an early save from Brian Jensen while Martin Paterson had Burnley's first shot on goal shortly before half-time.

The game needed something to get it going and it was provided by referee Iain Williamson as Palace were reduced to nine men in the space of five minutes.

First Scowcroft was shown a second yellow card for raising his arm in a challenge with Clarke Carlisle two minutes after the re-start. It was a carbon copy of the same infringement which had seen him booked in the 36th minute.

Palace captain Derry then followed his team-mate into the dressing room. The midfielder's challenge on Wade Elliott was late and merited a yellow card to add to the one he had picked up moments earlier for dissent.

Warnock had no complaints with Derry's red card but was disappointed with the decision on Scowcroft.

Warnock added: "With Derry it was a second yellow card, you cannot complain about that.

"But I think [the referee] got it wrong with the Scowcroft incident. They were both doing it when you look at the video. Everyone gets judged when they jump with their arms."

Burnley looked to make their two-man advantage count and they were unlucky not to have snatched the points when Chris McCann bundled the ball over the line in the 75th minute. But Williamson disallowed the goal for handball.

It was a decision which Owen Coyle, the Burnley manager, felt was incorrect.

He said: "I thought we had scored a perfectly good goal which was chalked off and also [Palace goalkeeper] Julian Speroni made some top-class saves.

"In the first half we both looked nervous. Palace are looking to score their first goal but we started well in the second half and then the sending offs came along.

"We showed some application and the effort was there but credit to Palace because they defended with their lives.

"The work ethic was good but we need to work on the final third because we could have had three points."