Pierre Sage has accepted responsibility for Crystal Palace’s latest defensive setback, but insists he remains the right manager to improve the team’s fortunes after Newcastle secured a 2-0 win at Selhurst Park.
Palace were beaten by two goals scored from Newcastle’s only efforts on target, continuing a worrying pattern for Sage’s side. The manager felt his team lost control for around 15 minutes after the interval, allowing Newcastle to dictate the game without enough pressure or response.
The result leaves Palace with 19 goals conceded in eight Premier League matches, the poorest defensive record in the division. Sage acknowledged the contrast with his previous work at Lens, who had one of Ligue 1’s strongest defensive records last season, and said his preferred method of defending is to retain possession. Palace, however, have had less of the ball than all but three promoted teams.
Sage described the problem against Newcastle as mental rather than tactical. He said Palace had limited the visitors’ opportunities in open play more effectively than in some previous matches, but added that this was not enough when mistakes continued to lead to goals. Palace had also conceded twice from Beşiktaş’s only shots on target in their previous match.
The defeat was Palace’s second in succession in the league, following a 5-0 loss to Brighton, and leaves them 17th. Sage said he remains in regular contact with chairman Steve Parish, while the subject of his future has not been raised in those discussions. His focus, he added, is on finding solutions and creating the conditions for Palace to compete more effectively.
