Palace fought hard and battled well against a stubborn Ipswich side and, on another day, would have wrapped up three fairly routine points.
Anan Khalaili scored for the first time in red and blue, while Jorgen Strand Larsen added to the brace he scored against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup.
However, a red card for Axel Disasi in the 34th minute drastically changed the game, though it must be noted that he was also on the pitch for the Tractor Boys’ calamitous opening goal. The two goals that followed his departure were similarly disastrous and ultimately ruined what was otherwise a spirited performance from the home side.
Despite the positive attacking play on display over the past few matches, with three goals scored against both Fulham and Middlesbrough, Palace’s work is currently being undone by defensive lapses and a lack of organisation. Pierre Sage has clearly been unable to identify his preferred back three at this stage, although Disasi’s dismissal will hardly help his selection plans moving forward.
Another circumstance beyond the French manager’s control was the injury sustained by Chadi Riad in the opening game of the season against Everton. Would things look different with Riad installed in the back three, building on his impressive World Cup campaign with Morocco and his Conference League-winning exploits? It would certainly be interesting to find out, but regardless, these various setbacks have contributed to defensive inconsistency.
One player many Palace fans expected to see involved on Saturday was emerging French talent Jaydee Canvot. Interestingly, the only explanation Sage offered for his absence was that “it was a sporting decision” to leave him out of the squad.
It was a curious choice of words and mirrors language previously used when discussing the exclusions of Evann Guessand and Dwight McNeil. Sage appeared somewhat nonplussed when explaining why those players have been absent from matchday squads. According to the manager, the attacking players simply have not done enough when given opportunities, which is understandable to a degree. The Canvot omission, however, is more difficult to comprehend.
Some criticised his display at Fulham, yet in truth everybody looked shaky defensively that afternoon. Ironically, Disasi was perhaps the exception.
The main challenge facing Sage now is identifying three defenders he trusts to form the backbone of the side for the remainder of the season.
Palace are blessed with two excellent goalkeeping options in Dean Henderson and Walter Benítez, while the wing-back positions appear well stocked, particularly on the left where Tyrick Mitchell and Ben Chilwell provide competition. Midfield looks packed with quality and intensity, with new arrival Quinten Timber already impressing through his dynamism and strong tackling alongside Adam Wharton, who has yet to hit top form this season.
Oddly enough, the attack currently appears to be Palace’s strongest area. John Philippe Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr are still to return from injury, and while it remains to be seen whether they can quickly recapture their best form after an eventful summer, their eventual return should provide a significant boost as European competition begins.
At the back, though, concerns remain. With Riad injured and Disasi unavailable for the foreseeable future, at least in the Premier League, solutions must be found quickly.
I find it difficult to imagine a patched-up Palace defence, low on confidence, thriving at Elland Road against an aggressive Leeds United side. Dominic Calvert-Lewin will undoubtedly relish the prospect of facing a team he always seems to score against.
Perhaps the answer lies with new loanee Honest Ahanor, another arrival from Chelsea. Were it not for Strand Larsen’s brace against Middlesbrough, he may well have walked away with the Man of the Match award. Takehiro Tomiyasu could also prove to be a shrewd addition, though right now he still appears to be shaking off some rust. You could argue that he was caught under the ball for Ipswich’s late winner, converted by Zian Flemming, though an unfortunate rebound from the crossbar left him in a difficult position.
Disasi was largely culpable for switching off during Emersonn’s headed equaliser, while the second goal was genuinely painful to watch. The chaotic movement of Ipswich players overwhelmed Palace’s defensive structure, allowing Leif Davis to ghost in at the back post for a comfortable finish of his own.
Perhaps the most concerning display came from Chris Richards.
That is difficult to write because a strong argument can be made that Richards was one of Palace’s most underrated performers during the club’s runs to Wembley and Leipzig. However, his lack of pace is currently being exposed, and he appears to be taking time to adjust to playing without Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guéhi alongside him.
Richards still has plenty of credit in the bank and deserves patience. Any defender would experience a dip in form after losing two centre-back partners of that calibre.
Personally, I am surprised Oscar Mingueza has not been given more opportunities. While he may possess greater attacking instincts than some of his competitors, he excelled at Celta Vigo last season and, crucially for Palace’s upcoming European campaign, was named in the Europa League Team of the Year for 2025/26.
Something needs to be identified quickly and, just as importantly, stuck with. Perhaps the Europa League fixture against Lech Poznań provides the perfect opportunity to establish some defensive stability ahead of the trip to West Yorkshire.
The following defensive trios have started Palace’s matches so far this season, with a different combination used every time:
Everton (A) – Canvot, Richards, Riad
Manchester City (H) – Canvot, Richards, Tomiyasu
Fulham (A) – Canvot, Disasi, Richards
Middlesbrough (H) – Tomiyasu, Disasi, Ahanor
Ipswich (H) – Ahanor, Disasi, Richards
My preferred back three for both Lech Poznań and Leeds would be:
Mingueza – Richards – Ahanor
The hope is that a settled defensive unit can begin to build confidence before the challenges ahead become even tougher.
