ROY Keane praised the spirit of his team, but insisted that Andros Townsend should not have been sent off during this afternoon’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.

Goals at the start of the second half from Grant Leadbitter (penalty) and Carlos Edwards put Town in complete charge, against 10-man Palace, although Townsend’s dismissal for an alleged lunge at keeper Julian Speroni, and Neil Danns’ injury-time header, left Keane’s men sweating until the final whistle.

“Andros was unlucky to be sent off. He’s not that type of player,” insisted Keane,

“That’s the first time he has been sent off in his career, and he was upset when I spoke to him in the dressing room afterwards.

“Their player (Speroni) got up afterwards. It’s amazing that! Perhaps he had the magic sponge?”

The transfer-listed Jon Stead led the front-line well, but the Irishman knows full well that he might lose his target man to another club, perhaps Bristol City, next week.

Keane confirmed: “It’s out of my hands. There should be news in the next 24 to 48 hours.

“It’s up in the air at the moment. Jon impressed today, as he has done ever since pre-season. He’s kept his head down, despite all the speculation, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens. I’m no accountant.”