‘Poor decision’ – Palace forward Scott Banks on late penalty appeal in Premier League International Cup final defeat

BY EDMUND BRACK AND ANDREW MCSTEEN

Crystal Palace U21 forward Scott Banks was adamant that his side should have been awarded a penalty in their Premier League International Cup final defeat to PSV on Tuesday evening.

PSV took the lead in the 25th minute when Dante Sealy was left unmarked at the back post and steered an effort beyond Owen Goodman.

But Scottish forward Banks pulled the Eagles level just before half-time when he collected the ball on the edge of the box and curled a stunning left-footed effort beyond PSV keeper Nick Schiks.

The Eagles had a penalty shout late on in the second half when Banks drove into the penalty area and was brought down by PSV midfielder Matthijs Tielemans. However, the referee ignored Palace’s appeals and waved play on.

The Dutch side scored two goals in extra time to claim the title, with Palace falling at the final hurdle after beating PSG, Braga and Valencia en route to the final.

“Ultimately frustrating,” Banks told the South London Press of the defeat at Selhurst Park.

“We had more than enough to win the game. We got ourselves back into the game through the goal, and we probably should have had a penalty in the 87th minute. It doesn’t happen – that’s football. Officials are going to make bad decisions.

“I’m just trying to cross the ball. I have knocked it down the line and broke into the box. I just want to cross the ball, and he took my legs away from me.

“How it’s not a penalty, I’ll never know. But that’s football, and you can’t expect officials to make great decisions all the time. It’s disappointing for sure, because I think we win the game off that. 

“I definitely think it was a poor decision, but that’s football – You get on with it. Ultimately we concede a goal which we will be disappointed with when we look back at it. But we threw everything at it at the end.”

PSV ply their trade in the Dutch second division and thrashed Arsenal 7-2 and knocked out Everton to reach the final against the Eagles.

“They’re a professional out – very technical and intelligent players,” added Banks.

“They were tough to deal with when we let them play. 

“We probably let them have too much of a spell in extra time, but obviously, people are fatigued, and that happens.

“They’re a massive club, but it’s disappointing. I think we had more than enough to heat them, but we just didn’t do it on the night.”

Banks, 21, has spent the season out on loan with Bradford in League Two, where he netted six times to help Mark Hughes’ side reach the play-offs. 

Bradford where ultimately knocked out by Carlise, with Banks, who grabbed an assist in both legs, ending his loan spell at Valley Parade on Saturday and playing for Darren Powell’s U21 side in SE25 on Tuesday evening.

“It was nice to be asked to come back and to play in the game, but it’s a double disappointment for me,” admitted Banks.

“I lost in the play-off semis on Saturday, come here and then lost tonight. 

“I need to regroup and cheer up somewhere.”