Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage credited his team’s half-time adjustments after the Eagles moved past Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup. Palace took a 1-0 lead into the interval, but Sage felt the visitors had been the stronger side for periods of an open first half.
Jørgen Strand Larsen provided the breakthrough with a glancing header from Óscar Mingueza’s in-swinging delivery. Palace then produced a more controlled performance after the restart, with Strand Larsen scoring another header before Daichi Kamada sealed the result with a late chip.
Sage felt Palace had struggled to deal with Middlesbrough’s movement between the lines before the break. The manager said those issues were addressed at half-time, allowing his side to play with greater assurance and control, even though Middlesbrough finished the match with more possession.
The Palace boss also praised the Championship visitors, noting that both teams had made eight changes to their starting line-ups for the cup tie. He suggested the players became more comfortable as the game progressed and recognised that they had the quality to take control rather than playing with fear.
Strand Larsen’s contribution gives Sage another selection decision to consider after the forward also made an impact from the bench during Saturday’s 3-2 win over Fulham. The striker played 45 minutes in that match and around an hour against Middlesbrough, with Palace facing Ipswich Town next. Sage said Strand Larsen could start that game, while Eddie Nketiah may return to training shortly.
