Neil Warnock has admitted his unhappiness after Rob Styles was appointed referee for tomorrow’s clash with QPR at Selhurst Park.

The Yorkshireman has been a long-standing critic of Styles after the official awarded a controversial penalty to Liverpool against his Sheffield United side on the opening day of their Premiership season two years ago and then failed to award a cast iron penalty to the Blades at Old Trafford.

Of the latter incident, Warnock wrote in his autobiography: “It was the most obvious of penalties and the most obvious of red cards.

“Everybody said so but Rob Styles didn’t give it. Let’s face it he doesn’t give much against the big teams. He hasn’t quite got the courage.”

Styles has made a number of high profile blunders this season, including awarding Christiano Ronaldo a penalty at Bolton when Jlloyd Samuel clearly got the ball and then sending off Habib Beye in the 12th minute of Newcastle’s draw against Manchester City, a decision that was later rescinded and led to Styles being dropped from the Premiership programme.

Warnock said: “I am disappointed that we have been given Rob Styles again simply because of the comments I made about him in my book.

“I feel strongly about two of the decisions he made that season. I was hoping I would never get him again and I am disappointed I do.”

Paul Ifill will face a late fitness test ahead of tomorrow’s match while Alan Lee and Danny Butterfield are set to play in a reserve fixture next Wednesday against Reading at Bromley’s Hayes Lane as they continue to recover from hamstring injuries.