Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew says officials are inconsistent on the touchline
Saturday 17 September 2016 13:03, UK
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew does not believe officials are consistent when it comes to reprimanding managers on the touchline at games.
Pardew was speaking after Stoke boss Mark Hughes was given a Football Association charge of improper conduct, having been sent to the stands during their 4-0 defeat to Tottenham last weekend for leaving his technical area while protesting a decision.
The Potters have since expressed concerns about inconsistencies shown by match officials towards managers and Pardew agreed there must be clearer guidance from those in charge.
He said: "The new managers - [Antonio] Conte, [Jurgen] Klopp - are allowed to run around and some of us aren't given quite as much licence and Mark Hughes was perhaps referencing that.
"I think last weekend the fourth official was very quick, I had stepped out of the box by six inches and he dragged me back in and told me off.
"It is almost like you cannot come out of that box, which seems a bit ridiculous to me. I can understand that we have to set an example but we are emotional people and we want to win."
Stoke are bottom of the Premier League as they travel to Selhurst Park as part of Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD, with just one point from a draw on the opening day of the season against Middlesbrough.
But Pardew does not believe they are going to be in trouble come the end of the campaign.
"I think they have started okay but they have had some tough fixtures," he said. "Mark Hughes is a great manager and what he has done there to change their style is for all to see.
"They will be absolutely fine, they have a great squad and a great manager."
Palace struggled with their form at home last season, winning just six games, but since August the Eagles have won one, drawn one and lost one at Selhurst Park in all competitions and Pardew is hopeful the work they have put in over the summer is starting to pay off.
"We haven't been brilliant at home but our form over the last 10 games has improved slightly. We need to take that forward and get the win," he said. "We have tried to analyse what we don't do well at home and what we do well.
"Some of the things we have put right but the most important thing is making it difficult for the opposition to get a result and at times we have made it a little bit too easy. It is about keeping the momentum, it is very difficult in any Premier League game."
Watch Crystal Palace v Stoke as part of Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD, from 1.30pm.
