Crystal Palace defender Martin Kelly has called for referees to provide more protection for Wilfried Zaha after Etienne Capoue escaped a red card for his dangerous tackle on the striker.
Watford’s Capoue raked his studs down the back of Zaha’s leg in Palace’s 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road on Sunday but received only a yellow card from official Anthony Taylor.
Palace manager Roy Hodgson felt Capoue should have been sent off for the challenge and Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness said “Capoue set out to nail Zaha”.
Kelly believes opposition teams are targeting Zaha and he wants referees to clamp down on the rough treatment he receives.
Kelly said: “Teams are seeing Wilf as our star player now and are obviously trying to nullify him at the start of games by doubling up or leaving late challenges on him.
“The refs have got to look after Wilf the way all top players are looked after for all top teams. We have got to keep him fit. He is our main threat.”
In Pictures | Watford vs Crystal Palace | 26/08/2018
Palace play Swansea in the Carabao Cup tonight and Zaha is likely to be rested, with Hodgson set to make changes for the trip to south Wales. Keeper Vicente Guaita is set to make his Palace debut, while Max Meyer and Cheikhou Kouyate could make their first starts for the club.
