James McArthur had no doubts the right team won after Crystal Palace’s 2-1 success over Aston Villa on Saturday.

A drab first half played in searing heat sparked into life following the half-time introduction of Jordan Mutch and Dwight Gayle.

McArthur applied the final touch with his chest to Gayle’s shot, only for the referee to change his mind on awarding the goal after consulting with his linesman.

The Eagles weren’t deflated by the setback and broke the deadlock on 71 minutes with a powerful Scott Dann header.

Villa were back on terms six minutes later as the unfortunate Pape Souare put into his own net.

But with just three minutes remaining debutant Bakary Sako struck the winner to leave McArthur feeling justice was done.

The midfielder said: “I felt second half we were worthy winners of the match.

“First half we didn’t quite get going but I still don’t think there was much in the game.

“We limited them to chances but second half we upped it.

“It shows you the character in that changing room that we concede a goal quite late on and a lot of teams might think we will take the point, or you even lose that match, but the character is in there to go and push and push.”

McArthur was, however, at a loss to explain why Palace had been so lacklustre in the first period, while also acknowledging Alan Pardew’s double half-time switch had paid off.

The Scotland international said: “If you could put your finger on it then you would be starting much better, but I think the main thing is here that we’ve got the win.

“And I would say the performance as well, especially in the second half, I think we gave the fans something to cheer about.

“At no point in the game did I feel we were going to lose it.

“We were very solid. Jordan Mutch and Dwight Gayle came on at half-time and really made a big difference.

“The gaffer changed the shape and I think that helped us as well.”

McArthur admitted afterwards the linesman had been right to rule out his disallowed goal.

He explained: “It was going wide. I’ve just touched it and it went in, so I’m gutted that the goal didn’t stand but it was the correct decision.

“I thought I was offside. I think if you look at me I run away and I have a wee look as well but I wasn’t sure who was behind me whether I was on or off.

“I was delighted and obviously really gutted!”

But despite missing out, McArthur was quick to heap praise on both of Palace’s legitimate scorers against Villa.

“Scott Dann, I’ve got to give a special mention to him,” he said.

“Not only to get the goal, which was impressive, but even more impressive was to step in, take the ball off him (Jordan Amavi) and to find a great pass like that to pick Bakary out, where a lot of people would have flashed it across the front of the goal.

“I’m delighted for Sako to get his first goal as well. I felt he played very well.”

Despite being pegged back by Villa so late on, McArthur was delighted with the way Palace responded to the setback and kept pressing to secure all three points.

He explained: “That is what happened last year as well.

“There are so many big characters.

“You look at last year where we went behind in a lot of games and a  lot  of teams can switch off and say: ‘Right, I don’t think we are going to get back into this’.

“Not at this club.

“I think we were first or second in the table of teams to get points from losing positions.

“To obviously concede a goal like their equaliser was obviously very disappointing but to come back and win the game is brilliant.

“The atmosphere in the changing room is terrific.”

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