Crystal Palace secured their first points under Pierre Sage with a dramatic 3-2 victory at Fulham, although the result came with a clear warning. Tyrick Mitchell scored twice before substitute Ben Chilwell struck the winner, meaning all three Palace goals came from left wing-backs. The attacking output was encouraging, but their defensive display remained deeply concerning.
The victory followed two defeats in which Palace had conceded six goals, often while being caught in transition. Fulham created 25 shots and had 68 touches inside the Palace penalty area, the highest figure Palace have allowed since a 2-2 draw with Manchester City in January 2020. Fulham repeatedly found space with diagonal passes into or beyond the defence before creating shooting or cut-back opportunities.
Sage’s system is more aggressive than Oliver Glasner’s, with a higher press and quicker attacking combinations. Palace have shown speed and purpose going forward, but the space between their defence and midfield has left them vulnerable. Quinten Timber and Adam Wharton struggled to influence the first half, while the centre-backs were frequently exposed.
Anan Khalaili’s advanced position also contributed to the problem on Palace’s right. When Chris Richards was pulled into that area, he was left one-on-one with Josh King, a situation that allowed Fulham to attack the space behind him. Palace’s defensive organisation will need to improve as a team that includes 11 new signings, four of whom arrived on deadline day, settles into Sage’s methods.
The manager has indicated that he would prefer a stable team, and greater consistency could help Palace close the gaps without sacrificing their attacking intent. Players such as Yeremy Pino and Daichi Kamada may benefit from the more expressive style, while Palace’s forwards have already shown an ability to create openings at speed.
The challenge is ensuring that entertainment produces results rather than undermining them. The Fulham win has eased the pressure and provided valuable time for integration, but Palace will need to find a more reliable balance between taking risks in attack and protecting themselves when possession is lost.
