City were training 2-0 after a disappointing display on the back of four consecutive victories, when Ndidi picked up a second booking for simulation.
Ndidi, on his 21st birthday, went down dramatically inside the Palace penalty area and referee Martin Atkinson brandished a second yellow card and City’s hope of a comeback ended, but Puel backed his player.
“A little harsh,” was Puel’s verdict. “Ndidi didn’t make a lot of fouls in the game. To lose him, with his quality, it was difficult to come back in the game.
“It’s harsh, of course, perhaps it was simulation.
“I think just before he fell, he felt contact and he needed to fall on the contact, afterwards it was too late.”
However, Puel admitted his side didn’t deserve anything from the game after an uncharacteristically poor display, especially after they were so good in the midweek win at Southampton.
“I will discuss it with the players but it was, of course, not the same team,” he said.
“They played very well against Southampton and (against Palace) it was difficult to start on the game without finding the good intensity, the good tempo.
“The first half was too slow and without quality against a strong defence.
“For me, it was just a bad day. It was a very good performance at Southampton and on Saturday it was not enough. Crystal Palace played with quality.”
Puel made three changes from the side that won 4-1 at St Mary’s Stadium, leaving out two-goal hero Shinji Okazaki, but he defended his decision.
“I can’t regret the changes,” he said. “Before the game against Southampton some people asked me why I made three changes.
“If Shinij can have a good game against Southampton it’s because the game before he didn’t play.
“For example, on Saturday, it was Demarai Gray who started the play and it was interesting and good work for his team-mates, good penetration.”
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