Southampton boss Claude Puel refused to blame goalkeeper Fraser Forster for defeat at Southampton.

Southampton were unexpectedly poor while pursuing their third victory in a week, but their manager Claude Puel insisted Forster was not to blame and that his team struggled because of the Selhurst Park pitch.

"For me it's the bad pitch and it was difficult to play in the second half, for example, against a team two goals up," the Frenchman said. "It was difficult to find a good solution and to put good play on this pitch.

"It is not the fault of Fraser.

"It was the bad pitch (that) gives opportunities to the opponent."