Crystal Palace’s Jeffrey Schlupp: What could Luka Milivojevic have done differently to avoid red card?

BY SAM SMITH

Jeffrey Schlupp has questioned what Luka Milivojevic could have done differently in the scenario that saw the Serbian sent off late in Crystal Palace’s 2-0 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Club captain Milivojevic scampered across the pitch to prevent a counter-attack and slid in to tackle Joao Moutinho.

The Eagles midfielder appeared to make a touch on the ball, but his follow-through caught the Wolves player high on his ankle at full force.

Referee Martin Atkinson did not initially give a foul was advised to check his pitchside monitor – usually a clear sign that a decision has been overturned.

But Schlupp feels that his team-mate could not have made the tackle any differently.

“Everyone has seen it back and feel that it is a harsh decision,” the Ghanaian told Palace TV.

“He got the whole ball but the referee has said something about the follow through. I don’t really know what else you want Luka to do in that situation.

“He can’t tackle someone and then pull your leg out the way or make your leg disappear. But there is nothing we can do now and we’ve got to move on and get ready for the Leeds game.”

Milivojevic will now miss Palace’s matches against Leeds United, Burnley and Newcastle United, unless his red card is overturned. Manager Roy Hodgson said that he would appeal if it were his decision.

Schlupp felt Palace failed to deal with Wolves’ wing-backs in the defeat – which leaves Palace ninth after seven matches.

He continued: “We saw that they play with a lot of width and have dangerous wing-backs, but we couldn’t really get close to them first-half.

“We changed a few things and it worked out better in the second half but it’s still not good enough. We made things too hard for ourselves from the way that we played in the first-half.”