Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock felt "bitterly let down" by referee Andy Woolmer following his side's 2-0 defeat at Preston.Former Aberdeen midfielder Barry Nicholson opened the scoring for North End in the 58th minute, but the Eagles were denied the opportunity to equalise five minutes later when home goalkeeper Andy Lonergan shoved James Scowcroft in the back inside the box.

As Scowcroft lay on the ground, Palace's players appealed vehemently for a penalty - only for Woolmer to ignore the claims and leave Warnock fuming pitchside.

The controversial former Sheffield United manager's misery was compounded when Richard Chaplow claimed a clinical late second goal to seal Preston's victory.

Rival counterpart Alan Irvine admitted afterwards it was a "definite penalty", which merely added to Warnock's agony.

Warnock said: "Alan has seen it hasn't he? He's not daft.

"Lonergan came down the tunnel and said it was a penalty so what can you do?

"When you talk about respect, officials have got to learn respect.

"I expect officials to see something as blatant as that. It's not just one arm, it was two arms in the back of him, and I could see it on the halfway line.

"You've got to be strong and know what you're doing as officials.

"I feel bitterly let down today because a sad day.

"If we had got the penalty we would have been in the ascendancy because they created nothing and didn't hurt us.

"I never felt threatened by them but once again the major decisions have hurt us.

"Even in the build-up to their second goal, the referee missed a handball from Paul McKenna."

Warnock also suggested Preston striker Neil Mellor was guilty of diving.

"Mellor should have been in Beijing with young Tom (Daley) and how he's not got a yellow card is beyond me," added Warnock.

Preston boss Irvine said: "I thought it was a penalty. I haven't seen it again but my first impression was that it was a penalty.

"I had a look at the referee straight away and I thought it was definitely a penalty in my eyes.

"It would have been harsh on us because I thought we were by far the better team for most of the game.

"But they are big moments - game-changing moments - although I thought we could have had a penalty as well."

Nicholson, who joined North End on a Bosman transfer from Aberdeen in July, hit the back of the net with a low shot in the 58th minute after Callum Davidson's cross caused panic in the Palace defence.

His fellow midfielder Chaplow added the second in the closing stages to make sure of Preston's third win of the season in all competitions.

Defender Davidson may not join up with the Scotland squad for Wednesday's friendly against Northern Ireland after sustaining a knee injury.

Irvine added: "I'll speak to (Scotland manager) George Burley but it's disappointing for Callum."

More Football News from TEAMtalk