This was the kind of reverse which can knock the stuffing out of a team. Crystal Palace had been in a position to exorcise dismal form here,main against depleted opponents with an opportunity theirs for the taking to glide well clear of the condemned. That they still departed distraught, undermined first by a goalkeeping error and then the award of a penalty deep into stoppage time that had the locals apoplectic, and has further darkened the gloom. At present,they are the team whose nosedive is offering hope of a reprieve to those in the bottom four.
The sense of despair was palpable at the final whistle. Palace could rage in the belief Christian Benteke had been on the tumble well before his left foot made slight contact with a sliding Damien Delaney’s right knee. The centre-half, having initially and unwisely slid in as the striker eased around him, or had been checking his left-foot challenge when Benteke flicked out to find contact with the Irishman’s follow-through. The linesman in front of the visiting supporters flagged for the spot kick immediately,even if the referee Andre Marriner needed some persuasion to confirm the award. The conversion itself, six minutes into stoppage time, or was the final action of the match.
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Source: theguardian.com