Alan Pardew says Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola tackling remarks meant crowd put pressure on referee

Pardew claimed Guardiola's comments 'affected the crowd'

Alan Pardew saw his side come out second-best in an ill-tempered game (Getty)

Alan Pardew suggested that Pep Guardiola’s comments about reckless tackling affected the Etihad crowd after his West Bromwich Albion side fell to an ill-tempered 3-0 defeat against Manchester City.

Pardew’s side made several forceful challenges on City’s player, the worst coming deep into the second half when Matt Phillips went in high and late on substitute Brahim Diaz.

Phillips only received a yellow card for the tackle, as did James McClean when he dangerously attempted to bring down Kevin De Bruyne in the build-up to City’s second goal.

City were not blameless themselves, however, with Fernandinho escaping punishment for a clumsy challenge of Grzegorz Krychowiak, who was forced off the pitch through injury shortly after.

Referee Bobby Madley chose not use his red card on any one of the occasions, despite them coming days after the debate provoked by Joe Bennett’s strong challenge on Leroy Sané, which left the City winger sidelined for seven weeks with ankle ligament damage.

Pardew admitted Phillips’ tackle on Diaz was “a poor challenge” but believed Madley was right to only show a yellow card.

The West Bromwich manager added that Guardiola’s calls for players to be shown more protection had affected the Etihad crowd and increased pressure on Madley.

“He’s a winger and in desperate situations wingers can make poor challenges,” Pardew said in defence of Phillips. “It was a poor challenge, make no mistake about that. I think Fernandinho made a similar one in the middle of the pitch. I’m not sure if the referee saw it.

“I thought Pep’s comments at the weekend affected the crowd. Every challenge they were saying you’re not protecting our players, referee.

“There were a few songs sung about him but I actually thought he had a decent game. His calls were correct and it was a yellow card for Phillips, no doubt.”

Pardew did not go as far as to label Fernandinho’s foul on Krychiowiak as a ‘stamp’, claiming he would need to see the challenge again.

“Gregorz struggled after that but I haven’t seen it. He didn’t think it was particularly great.”