Crystal Palace will seek their first Premier League win at Selhurst Park in 2026/27 when Ipswich Town visit on Saturday, with a first league clean sheet of the campaign also in the Eagles’ sights.
Manager Pierre Sage believes Palace still have significant defensive work to do. He identified issues both when the team presses and when it defends in a deeper shape, but said the regular run of matches should provide opportunities to improve.
Palace recorded their first clean sheet of the season in Tuesday’s 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over Middlesbrough. Sage acknowledged that the visitors created danger before the break and late in the first half, but said the result had given his players a confidence boost. The manager also changed the back three for that match to manage player freshness, while stressing that defensive understanding will require the group to play together more often.
Sage views progress as something that may not happen in a straight line, although he wants the team to take a step forward in every fixture. He also underlined the importance of competing in every competition, arguing that additional matches create more chances for the squad to develop.
The manager also discussed Adam Wharton after the midfielder made his 100th Palace appearance in midweek. Sage said his aim is to help Wharton move beyond his current level, praising the youngster’s intelligence, understanding of the game and commitment to learning. While Wharton is already regarded as a wonderful player, Sage believes he has the ability to become even better.
