Crystal Palace supporters saw plenty of positives in Thursday’s 2-2 Europa League draw with Besiktas, although several felt the result did not fully reflect the team’s performance. Fans pointed to missed opportunities in the first half, including finishing problems and errors in dealing with the offside line, which they believed prevented Palace from building a decisive lead.
The defensive work drew more criticism after Besiktas scored their second goal. One supporter blamed two missed tackles, while another said Palace must find a way to concede fewer goals despite the encouragement of scoring twice. There was also a view that Palace had been unfortunate with the officials, with claims that Daichi Kamada should have received a penalty after being fouled inside the area.
The atmosphere in Turkey was described as hostile, but supporters praised Palace for remaining composed. One fan felt the team deserved to win the hard-fought contest and said the performance offered encouragement ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Newcastle.
Several players received individual praise. Chadi Canvot was singled out for his display on the left side of defence, while Facundo Pino, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Adam Wharton were also mentioned positively. Mateta was described as particularly impressive, while Wharton’s confidence was viewed as another encouraging sign.
The result was also seen as a major improvement on Sunday’s performance. One supporter backed Sage, arguing that the players’ response showed continued belief despite the departure of the two leaders of Palace’s back three, who were sold last January and during the summer window without being replaced. Another fan said that, after Brighton had scored freely, it was encouraging to see Palace produce a more resilient defensive display.
For some supporters, the Newcastle fixture could prove important for Sage. One suggested that the manager would retain his position if Palace could reproduce the Besiktas performance, while others focused on the need to turn the encouraging showing into better finishing and more reliable defending.
