Crystal Palace give Pierre Sage more time after Brighton defeat
Pierre Sage is expected to manage Crystal Palace’s next two matches, but the club is concerned about its defensive record after a 5-0 loss to Brighton.
Crystal Palace is expected to keep manager Pierre Sage in charge for its next two matches after a 5-0 defeat at Brighton on Sunday, 18 October. The Guardian and The Athletic reported on Monday that the club will give him more time, although his position is under serious scrutiny as Palace tries to address its defensive problems.
Sage is expected to lead Palace in Thursday’s Europa League match at Beşiktaş and Sunday’s Premier League game at home to Newcastle United, according to both reports. The Athletic reported that chairman Steve Parish is prepared to act if performances do not improve; another heavy defeat in Turkey could prompt the club to reconsider its position.
Why Pierre Sage is under pressure at Crystal Palace
Palace conceded three goals in the first 10 minutes of the Brighton match, according to The Guardian. The 5-0 result equalled the club’s 70-year-old record for its heaviest defeat against its rivals. Palace has conceded 17 goals in seven Premier League matches, the most in the division, while sitting 14th with seven points, the reports said.
The result followed a difficult start for Sage, who replaced Oliver Glasner in June after managing Lyon and Lens in France. Parish told The Athletic in September that the club was ‘still on high alert’ about its start, while pointing to upheaval that included the departures of centre-backs Marc Guéhi and Maxence Lacroix and the arrival of 11 new signings.
After the Brighton defeat, Sage said he did not know whether he would get the chance to put things right. ‘I just want to apologise to the fans because it’s not normal to show this face for this club against this other club,’ he said at his post-match press conference, according to The Athletic.
Palace’s next matches
The Athletic reported that Sage was due to discuss the defensive problems and the Brighton performance with the club’s sporting department on Monday. The players had a scheduled day off amid a run of nine games in 28 days. The Guardian reported that some people behind the scenes had pushed for Sage’s dismissal, while Parish was thought to favour giving him time amid a three-match suspension for Axel Disasi and injuries to Chadi Riad and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
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Sources and context
- Crystal Palace to give Sage more time but manager under serious scrutinyThe Guardian
- Pierre Sage to be given more time as Crystal Palace manager despite 5-0 Brighton lossThe Athletic (The New York Times)
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.