Jim Magilton explained his controversial decision to replace Jon Stead with Pablo Couñago in the second half of Town's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace and admitted he probably got it wrong. The North Stand chanted "You don't know what you're doing" at the former skipper after the change had been made.

Magilton said: "I just felt Pablo coming into that little hole was something to get us into the game. I felt with Kevin Lisbie's pace, he would utilise anything played in behind them.

"Stead had worked really hard and scored a great goal. I may have got that one wrong and hold my hands up. In hindsight, which is a wonderful thing, keeping him on may have been better.”

The Town manager said the vocal criticism from fans, which he received for the first time in his time as boss, comes with the territory: "I've got to live with it, it's part and parcel of the game, and I certainly do know what I'm doing.

"I can't stop it and people pay good money to come and watch their football here. They're welcome to air their views and I know I can't go through my managerial life without getting any criticism.

"I'm a big enough person to deal with it. I never took the job expecting to be free of criticism."

The Blues boss thought his side began the match poorly: "We didn't start the game well, but once we scored I thought we would settle down but it didn't happen.

"We were jittery and lacked composure and we didn't get our midfield players on the ball.

"They scored from a set piece, which is very disappointing again, and got players behind the ball and made it very difficult for us.

"The goal was our only decent bit of football in the first half. We were better after the break, but lacked the quality we showed against Reading and against Wigan for long periods.

"We've made a stuttering start at home and, after picking up so many points here last season, teams will come here and make it difficult for us. Palace did just that and probably deserved something from the game.

"We did finish the game strongly and had chances to have won the match, but I think Palace were worthy of a point."

Neil Warnock was happy with his side's display: "It was as good as we've produced this season.

"We needed a performance like that and it took a good team to make us play. I thought our tactics were good.

"We looked strong, played some good counter-attacking football and overall it was a good match for TV.

"It would have been cruel to lose, but had we scored a second it would have made it a bit nervy for them."

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