Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has criticised referee Phil Dowd after seeing his team suffer a 3-1 defeat in their Premier League match against Sunderland.

Fraizer Campbell appeared to be fouled inside the box by Santiago Vergini in the first minute of the game, but nothing was given by the referee, leaving Warnock furious at the decision.

"It is a cruel game football. We have ended up losing 3-1 which on paper looks a poor defeat but I can't fault the lads tonight but decisions change games," BBC Sport quotes him as saying.

"You don't get a clearer penalty that Fraizer Campbell's. The referee was in a good position but he said he didn't see it and I find it very difficult how he did not see that. To say we are not getting decisions is an understatement.

"What can you say to them? They go to another game Saturday and they will not worry about Palace. There are too many mistakes. You have to give penalties, you have to be brave to give penalties and they don't seem top be doing that at the moment."

Crystal Palace will return to action with a Premier League match against Manchester United on Saturday.