Late heartbreak for ten-man Palace as Ipswich snatch Selhurst Park thriller
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage expressed deep frustration for his players after a dramatic late collapse condemned them to a 3-2 defeat against Ipswich Town at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles looked to have salvaged an unlikely point when Jørgen Strand Larsen netted a late equaliser. That gutsy fightback came despite the hosts playing the majority of the match with ten men following Axel Disasi’s first-half red card.
Anan Khalaili had initially sparked the contest into life by firing Palace ahead with a superb strike early on. However, Ipswich ruthlessly exploited defensive frailties to score twice before the interval and seize control of a frantic, see-saw encounter.
Sage addressed the media in his post-match press conference and pointed straight to the chaotic momentum swings that ultimately cost his side.
“We are really frustrated because of the context of the game,” Sage stated.
“We conceded with their first opportunity and the red card meant I had to re-organise the team in a 3-5-1. At the end of the game we came back into it by playing together.”
“In the second-half we came back with more possession. We created chances and had the ball, and we got back to 2-2.”
“We had the opportunity for the 3-2 but we missed it. And then at the end it’s really hard to concede in this manner.”
Palace threw everything at the Tractor Boys after the break, but a familiar defensive soft spot reared its head once again. Sage acknowledged that his side’s recurring frailties inside their own penalty area are undermining their progress.
“It’s too many goals conceded this season and I’m aware of that,” Sage admitted. “Today we conceded less chances, but the opponent was very efficient.”
“We saw the same goal three times, a cross and then not winning the ball in our box.”
“In the defensive unit I think we have made progress. But we have conceded too many crosses and are not winning the ball in the box, this is a new problem.”
“It’s clear we have to be more efficient in that box.”
Amid the late-game misery, the Palace boss highlighted the tireless shift put in by Strand Larsen. The frontman capped another energetic display with his first Premier League goal of the campaign, continuing a hot streak that has yielded three goals in his last two outings.
“He has scored three goals in two games,” Sage noted. “He gave a lot to the team by defending and being positive.”
“He gave a lot to the team and I want to congratulate him for that. But I think he’s really frustrated by the result too.”
