MICK McCARTHY had no complaints about referee Phil Dowd's decision to send off Mart Poom in the first half of Sunderland's defeat at the hands of play-off rivals Crystal Palace last night.

Poom was shown the red card after 20 minutes when, as the last man, he brought down striker Andy Johnson inside the box.

After the Estonian goalkeeper was dismissed, Johnson fired home the penalty past substitute keeper Thomas Myrhe and then Neil Shipperley and Dougie Freedman completed a comprehensive victory.

But McCarthy had no complaints, he said: "They beat us 3-0 and it's not very pleasing. When you go down to ten men it's going to make a difference, especially when it's so early on.

"There wasn't much between the sides at that point. Then that decision has changed the game.

"I have no arguments with what I've seen, and I've seen the incident since the end of the game.

"From there we are one-nil down and chasing it with ten men. I'm not making excuses but when that happens, and we have played over 50 games this season, then it's going to catch up with us. It was one hurdle too far."

Palace boss Iain Dowie suggested Sunderland were the 'best passing side to have played at Selhurst Park this season' and McCarthy agreed.

But the Sunderland manager, whose side have lost their last three games without scoring a goal, was in no mood to accept compliments.

"We are one of the best in the league and I know that," said McCarthy, whose side face a fight to retain their play-off spot. "At 1-0 we created a very good chance and blew it. They then took control.

"But I look at the whole season and my players have been terrific.

"And I thought, after going down to ten men, we were having to chase and work hard and it was a difficult evening for us.

"We gave a stupid free-kick away and got caught on the break. That's what cost us."

A delighted Dowie said: "I thought we were a better side before the sending off. It's always disappointing to see a player go off but we cut them apart."

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