Pierre Sage is learning about his Crystal Palace squad the hard way, but nights like this certainly help smooth out the learning curve.
A roller-coaster start to the Premier League season featuring two bruising defeats out of the gate before a dramatic, tension-relieving 3-2 victory over Fulham left Selhurst Park looking for stability.
A heavily rotated Carabao Cup tie against a slick, well-drilled Middlesbrough side looked like a potential banana skin on paper. Instead, it turned into an exercise in tactical honesty, second-half control, and a timely reminder that the Eagles possess genuine weapons when they actually decide to play.
Dig into how Sage masterminded this 3-0 cup triumph, why a certain Norwegian striker is suddenly giving his manager a massive selection headache, and what it all means as attention turns straight toward Ipswich Town.
A Warning From the First Half
Crystal Palace and their Championship visitors traded blows in an open, end-to-end opening period that left the home dugout far from comfortable. While Jørgen Strand Larsen managed to break the deadlock by glancing home Óscar Mingueza’s in-swinging cross, the underlying structural issues were glaring.
Boro found pockets of space far too easily between the lines, exposing a newly assembled team that made eight changes from the weekend. Pierre Sage did not attempt to sugarcoat his side’s early shortcomings when addressing the press after the final whistle.
“I think we didn’t play well at the beginning of the game.
“We started to play when we scored the first goal. It was a good collective action. We controlled the ball at this moment. At the end we scored. That’s a good sign.
“During the first-half, I was not very happy with our way of defending. We struggled when they played between our lines. But we corrected this kind of thing during the half-time. It was better in the second-half.
“At the end, today, we had the score. We didn’t have possession. But they [Middlesbrough] are a good team. It’s really a good team. I want to congratulate them. The score is for us, but they played well. It’s like this.
“It’s always special to analyse the game in the Cup, because [both teams] made eight rotations in the starting eleven. At the end, they played well – better than us during the first-half.
“It’s unconscious, but I think the players are more relaxed in this kind of game. During the game, they understood they need to do more. It’s a good thing they are aware of that.
“I think during half-time, they understood that we are able to play. We don’t have to be afraid to play, because it’s only football and we have the quality to do it.”
The Clinic After the Interval
Whatever harsh truths were traded behind closed doors at half-time worked instantly. Palace emerged for the second period with an entirely different aura, locking down the central areas and asserting total control.
It took just eight minutes after the restart for the cushion to arrive. Ben Chilwell delivered a sweet, pinpoint cross into the box, allowing Strand Larsen to power a planted header past Sol Brynn.
The rout was then rounded off in style by substitute Daichi Kamada, who capped an exquisite cameo by lofting a sublime chip over a stranded Boro goalkeeper from outside the penalty area. From a chaotic first half to a polished professional routine, the Eagles ultimately cruised into the fourth round.
Strand Larsen’s Double Sparks a Selection Dilemma
Having made a notable impact off the bench during that 3-2 win over Fulham on Saturday, Jørgen Strand Larsen seized his starting opportunity at Selhurst Park with both hands. His two-goal salvo not only kickstarts his 2026/27 account in style, but it hands Pierre Sage a classic managerial headache.
With Ipswich Town looming large on Saturday, managing player fatigue while keeping momentum high is the ultimate balancing act. Sage acknowledged the delicate juggling act ahead of the weekend.
“It’s always a good problem when a player performs and the others have to move them – because a coach always like this. He always wants to have the better of the moment.
“It’s a good thing for the others, because they don’t have to give up. They have to give their best too. Sometimes, this kind of situation has a good effect on every player.
“I think it’s the same for every position. You spoke about the striker, but I think it’s the same for every position.
“Now, I just have to manage the freshness [of Jørgen], because he played 45 on Fulham, 60, 65 today, and we play on Saturday.
“I think he will be able to start [against Ipswich Town], but we will see what happens, because Eddie Nketiah will be able to train maybe tomorrow or after tomorrow.”
