[Slick_Footwork]

The Zaha one just after the red was much worse. If that's not retaliation, what is it?

Yea, if that's not a booking, then a booking doesn't exist.

That said, our players don't help themselves. Had Sawyers gone down rolling about like Van Anhalt then the ref has to at least book Zaha if not go to VAR, but instead he just stays on his feet and the ref gives a regular foul. It was Van Anhalt going down like he'd been shot from Pereira's nominal movement that's forced the ref to go to VAR. As much as I hate diving, play acting or pressuring the ref, sometimes you have to do it in order to make the game a level playing field. We seem to be very naive in the way we are going about our business.

I don't call it naive, I call it 'honest', and that's the way I'd prefer us to be, full stop.

The philosophy to be against cheating at all costs is admirable. The problem is, the authorities do not clamp down on it players going to ground unhurt. I mean, not a single pundit criticised Van Anholt for going down under Pereira's extended leg, despite the fact it was clear that he wasn't hurt. As unfortunate as it is, this seems to be accepted in modern day football.

Sometimes the refs seem to need a 'nudge' to actually see a bad tackle. It seems only our opponents are privy to this.

If our failings are down to genuinely honesty, then I suppose we can be commended even if it costs us our status in the league. My gut feeling is it's more down to naivety than honesty though, given our players will happily fall down in the box if there is a chance of winning a penalty, like Bartley first half. They simply don't seem sharp enough to go down writhing in agony when they are genuinely caught late.

I think it's one of our many failings at this level, as sad as it is to say.

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As far as today's game goes, it's hard to be critical given we more than matched them XI on XI in the first half.

I've criticised Pereira before for lack of professionalism, diving, lack of effort. But I struggle to blame him today because I can't be certain that he kicked out after watching the replay several times.

The sending off considered, the performance second half was unacceptable. To concede 5 goals to Palace, even a man down is nothing short of embarrassing. Surely Bilic plays X on XI in training to gear the side up for these scenarios? I mean, I can't think of any other team that would fold like a pack of cards after just losing a man. It's not like we were attacking them and being open at the other end, we managed to look completely open without launching a decent attack. Everyone other team seems to be able to keep things tight and lose by the odd goal when down a man but we get totally demolished by a team that is at the bottom end of the creativity scale. Lord knows what will happen if we lose a man against a City or Liverpool...

For me the evidence remains that Bilic is out of his depth. Okay, he can't be blamed for our loss today, but the second half performance showcased his major failing - that he failed to see and address that we are soft as butter through the midfield and at the back. The lack of defensive awareness in our midfield was glaringly obvious since last season and Bilic prioritised the Krovinovic signing for reasons only he will know. Second half today our midfield simply didn't go with their overlapping players and it doesn't matter if you have 10 or 11 men, you have to do that.

We seem to be shoehorning players into this formation which leaves us even more open through the midfield. I can't help think we should've sacrificed a centre half today after Palace scored their 2nd given most of the threat was coming from deep but Bilic simply couldn't see it. I do think we're on a hiding to nothing with this man at the helm.