Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann claims Oumar Niasse “conned” referee Anthony Taylor into awarding the Everton striker a controversial penalty in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles made a dream start in the opening minute when James McArthur fired them in front, although the advantage was quickly wiped out five minutes later as Dann was penalised after Niasse went to ground under his challenge.

Replays showed the Toffees attacker had made the most of the incident, raising a question mark over whether he could face a possible retrospective ban for diving.

Dann was non-committal on that suggestion, but didn’t hold back when it came to what he felt Niasse had done.

“You never know with these things,” he said about a retrospective suspension for the Everton star.

“But he has conned the referee at the end of the day. I don’t like to see people getting punished, but also I don’t like people diving to win penalties.

“I think there was one on Wilf (Zaha) that was a lot more of a penalty and we didn’t get that.

“If those decisions go against you, they need to go with you as well, they need to be consistent.

“You stay out of all that stuff (Niasse’s potential punishment). On the day it matters a whole lot.

“We have played them now so we haven’t got the three points we wanted. Whether there is retrospective or not it doesn’t make a difference to us.”

Dann also pointed out initially he felt there hadn’t been any contact between himself and Niasse.

“I didn’t think so at the time, but if there was it was minimal,” the 30-year-old explained. “I haven’t tried to tackle him, he has gone past me and you can see on the replays he has dived.”

Dann revealed he questioned Taylor’s decision immediately after the controversial spot-kick was awarded, even if those appeals fell on deaf ears.

The defender said: “I did speak with him. I was a bit shocked he gave it. He was adamant at the time it was a penalty and after, at half-time, I think he probably knew he made the wrong decision.

“He didn’t say anything to me personally, no, but hopefully he will look at the decision and know he got it wrong.”

Zaha restored Palace’s advantage 10 minutes before the break, although ironically it was Niasse who grabbed Everton’s point saver in first half stoppage time to deny Palace what would have been a vital victory.

“He probably knows he has conned them,” added Dann.

“What can you say now? You are probably hoping the referee is consistent.”

Palace may have been frustrated by their fellow strugglers at the weekend, but Dann was at least pleased to see striker Christian Benteke come off the bench for the first time following a two-month spell on the sidelines.

“It is nice to have Christian back,” the Eagles defender said.

“We done more than enough to win today and in previous games.

“It is about turning performances into wins. We need to be better to see games out. We need to be more clinical and also keep it tighter.

“We have shown in the last three, four, five games that we have the quality. We just need to grind out a win, starting next week (v Stoke).”