Pierre Sage’s difficult start as Crystal Palace manager has taken another turn for the worse, with supporters booing after Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle. The result was Palace’s fifth loss in eight Premier League matches and extended their winless run to four games.
Sage replaced Oliver Glasner, who delivered the FA Cup, a European trophy and the Community Shield during his two years at Selhurst Park. Four months into a three-year contract, the Frenchman said there was no internal panic despite the reaction from the stands.
“The boos are normal because we don’t have the result,” Sage said after the match. He added that the club remained focused on finding solutions and improving the team’s ability to compete.
Palace have collected seven points from their first eight league matches of the post-Glasner era. Their campaign began with defeats by Everton and Manchester City, followed by a win at Fulham, a home loss to newly promoted Ipswich and a goalless draw at Leeds. A comeback victory over Nottingham Forest on 11 October has been followed by defeats by Lyon and Brighton, as well as a 2-2 draw with Besiktas in Istanbul.
The defensive record is a major concern, with Palace having conceded 19 goals — the highest total in the Premier League after eight games. Their next league fixture is away to improving Tottenham, before Liverpool visit Selhurst Park. Palace will then travel to fellow strugglers Coventry City after the international break.
French football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live that Sage may need to become more ruthless, while former Manchester United and England forward Dion Dublin said the manager would have to show greater toughness. Sage’s Lens team was known for aggressive pressing and quick attacks after winning possession, but Palace have so far struggled to reproduce that impact under his leadership.
