Eagles Show Character But Suffer Defeat To Ipswich After Disasi Red Card

There was plenty of entertainment at Selhurst Park on an afternoon that turned out to be the final 3pm Saturday kick off until the New Year, but it was the newly promoted visitors that took all three points.

MATCH INFORMATION

OFFICIALS

PLAYER RATINGS

Crystal Palace

Ipswich Town

POST GAME QUOTES

PIERRE SAGE

“It is difficult when you play 10 v 11 but we did well with that because we reorganised and didn’t allow them too much space. We made a mistake before half-time. In the end we came back in the game by playing and being together. We had the opportunity to make it 3-2 and we missed. I am frustrated for the players because they gave a lot and deserved at least a point.”

GARY O’NEIL

“I’m pleased for the players and the fanbase. It is tough to win away from home in the Premier League as a newly promoted side. We’ve done it after the second away game of the season. Fantastic character, three good goals and we look like a threat. Plenty of positives. There is lots we need to improve on but in terms of character, there was some big pluses.”

MATCH STATISTICS

BOB’S POINT OF VIEW

Bob White was a coach at Palace under the tenure of Steve Coppell and Alan Smith and will be sharing his point of view each week in our review article.

“From a position of control at 1-0, we completely surrendered our dominance through one moment of madness in the first half with a red card and on two occasions where we allowed a cross from wide areas into the danger zone. This was compounded by both goals being conceded by free headers. Many a coach will have shouted from the touchline “stop the cross” and “stay with!”. Seemingly our defenders have forgotten those golden rules!

It was made even more disappointing when some of our build up play during the whole game was progressive breaking the lines plus creating opportunities from wide areas. On another day we could have scored four or more.

We may see a season of plenty of goals but defensively Sage must find a way of developing a tactical approach that gets the balance right. For all our creativity in the four league games so far, on occasions we look too open. Good teams are built on solid defending when out of possession.

Although we showed great resilience and character with ten men to get back into the game at 2-2, conceding a goal from another free header in the dying minutes only added to the defensive issues that have been too easily exploited by our opponents so far this season.

On an individual level, Timber was our best player today. He played the whole game with high energy and drive. Ahanor also showed today that he is a talent to watch. At aged only 18 he already shows many of the outstanding qualities we saw in Guehi.

In summary, some more green shoots offensively but much work needs to be done on our defending both collectively and individually in the areas which matter.”

TEB VERDICT

This was a difficult defeat to stomach after the ten men fought there way back into the game to level things up, with a very good chance to get the lead late in the game but for a sucker punch by the visitors.

It was the red card for Disasi that ultimately decided the game, but the Eagles should really have held on for a well-earned point by the final whistle.

There were plenty of positives to take from the game, not least the fighting spirit shown from the players. Quinten Timber had a fantastic game and showed us exactly what he is about, while Anan Khalaili got himself on the score sheet which at the time looked like it would set Palace on their way. A worthy mention for Honest Ahanor who showed glimpses of quality. And before the equaliser for the visitors and the sending off, the Eagles were playing some neat football between the lines showing just what we can expect from a Pierre Sage side.

More of a head scratcher is the start to the season Adam Wharton has had. Handed the captains armband for this game in the absence of Dean Henderson, he put in another poor performance. Is he struggling to play alongside Timber in the middle perhaps? Or is he just having a slow start to the season?

The frustrating thing for fans is that had we had Ismaila Sarr in the line up, with his pace and goalscoring record, that would have been just what we needed with ten men; an outlet and real threat. You must question where he does in fact have an injury or just sulking over his want to move in the summer.

If it is the latter, he is doing the club a real disservice, but he will be back at some point along with Jean-Philippe Matet, Jaydee Canvot, Dean Henderson, and Eddie Nketiah who Sage had to do without for this game.

LEAGUE POSITION

UPCOMING FIXTURES