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Zaha sees red after sarcastically clapping referee and is booked TWICE in a minute
Ivory Coast winger had scored to put Crystal Palace 1-0 up against Southampton - but then lost his head late on
WILFRIED ZAHA ensured he stole the headlines from Crystal Palace's 1-1 away draw with Southampton - and it wasn't for scoring.
The Ivory Coast winger opened the scoring in the 41st minute in what had been an entertaining clash between two of the Premier League strugglers.
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But the drama reached boiling point three minutes from time when the 26-year-old was booked TWICE in a minute and given his marching orders.
And it was because he clapped referee Andre Marriner's decision to issue the first yellow card.
Zaha was fuming that he wasn't awarded a free-kick after a challenge came in from James Ward-Prowse - who had ten minutes earlier equalised for 1-1.
The Palace winger seemed to insinuate Ward-Prowse had thrust an elbow towards him and shoved the Saints midfielder after the incident.
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Zaha was booked for his robust reaction, but he then proceeded to clap at the referee's decision, which was met with a second yellow.
The player was seen mouthing "well done" numerous times in Marriner's direction, before he was shepherded off the pitch by his team-mates.
Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace - Wilfred Zaha ends 18-game goal drought before being sent off for clapping ref
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Zaha will now miss the Eagles' crucial clash against fellow strugglers Fulham, which will come as a bitter blow to his manager Roy Hodgson.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, Hodgson had some sympathy for his star man - but accepted the red card.
He said: "His reaction to not receiving a foul when he was clearly pushed off the ball – obviously people do get frustrated [in those situations].
"But I can’t condone him applauding the referee after getting the yellow card – that is something you can’t do."
Ward-Prowse struck for the third league game in a row, chalking off Zaha’s first goal for 18 matches.
That was until Zaha ensured he would be the talking point from the game.
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