Crystal Palace head to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday night hoping to end an unusual pattern that has made Spurs particularly dangerous against opponents whose names begin with the letter C. Tottenham have already defeated Charlton, Coventry and Chelsea this season, and Palace are next in line on Halloween night.
The fixture could carry major consequences for Pierre Sage. Palace’s manager is under mounting pressure after heavy Premier League losses to Brighton and Newcastle left the Eagles close to the relegation zone. Their progress to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, secured with a narrow victory over Fulham, has provided some relief, but their league campaign has produced only two wins.
Defensive weakness remains a major concern for Palace, who have conceded 19 league goals — the highest total in the division according to the supplied report. The team has also had to cope with the departures of Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix. Chris Richards has been used as the defensive organiser, while Axel Disasi has yet to make the expected impact after joining on loan from Chelsea. Eighteen-year-old Honest Ahanor is also continuing to adapt, although Dean Henderson’s return in goal offers encouragement.
Sage has received support from Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who knows the Palace boss from his time at Lyon and Lens. De Zerbi described Sage as a very good coach and said Palace remain alive after watching their recent matches. That backing comes as Spurs attempt to build on their own recovery following a difficult start to the season.
Tottenham have now recorded consecutive league victories, while their attacking football has begun to produce results. Their summer recruitment, supported by a £394 million spending spree, is also starting to have an impact, with Sandro Tonali, Jan Paul van Hecke and Mateus Fernandes among the players making contributions. Palace will need to halt that momentum if they are to avoid becoming the fourth team beginning with C to lose to Spurs this season — and ease the pressure surrounding Sage.
