Quinten Timber admitted Crystal Palace gave themselves too much to do after a disappointing first half in their Europa League defeat at Lyon on Thursday night.
The Eagles improved considerably after the interval and came close to earning a point in France, but Lyon held on to hand Palace their first European defeat of the season.
Timber felt the response after the break was important, but said Palace’s performance before half-time fell well below the required standard. The midfielder explained that the players addressed the issue among themselves during the interval and recognised they had to improve their display.
Although he was frustrated that the second-half reaction did not produce a result, Timber was encouraged by the character shown by the team. He also stressed that Palace must maintain that intensity throughout matches rather than rely on a response after a difficult start.
The Dutchman believes Palace have the quality to compete with teams such as Lyon, making the slow opening period all the more frustrating. He now hopes the Eagles can deliver a complete performance when they face Brighton.
Timber also praised the travelling Palace support, who made their presence felt from their position high in the Parc OL. He recalled speaking to a supporter at the team hotel who said they would also be travelling to Beşiktaş, and said he hoped the players could give the fans a better result against Brighton.
