Crystal Palace

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Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage, speaking at his post-match news conference after Tuesday's 3-0 Carabao Cup third round win over Middlesbrough:

"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 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 XI. 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."

On striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who scored twice: "It's always a good problem when a player performs and the others have to move them – because a coach always likes 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.

"I think he will be able to start [against Ipswich], but we will see what happens, because Eddie Nketiah will be able to train maybe tomorrow or after tomorrow."

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Crystal Palace's performance

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies.

There are five games in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Bournemouth v Lincoln City

• Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Leyton Orient v Bradford City

• Sunderland v Hull City

• Millwall v Newcastle (20:00)

Kick-off times 19:45 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live EFL Cup commentary on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Crystal Palace match".

There's also Champions League action happening on Tuesday - follow those games here

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We asked for your views on whether defending is a problem for Crystal Palace and whether you will be happy with two wins from four in the Premier League if Pierre Sage's side beat Ipswich on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: Defence is very much a concern. The Premier League looks to contain more teams who could capitalise on that and, as we know, three consecutive draws or defeats can have as great an impact on position in table (and confidence) as three consecutive wins. Sage has hard work ahead of him.

David: We have a very bad problem at the back. Some players just run back and stand and watch. It's been a problem under the old manager as well as the new one. We have sold the best ones in defence and kept the status.

Mike: It's easy to get euphoric about an away win but two more goals conceded in a game shows how poor our defence is - and at the opposite end, no goals from our strikers. Yet again, it all adds up to a poor season ahead, with relegation a real possibility.

Andy: Players are working under a new manager with changes to what really is a back five. When they work well it is good, but we give the ball away too easily at the moment when we build from the back and, as we saw against, Manchester City have been made to pay. We need to be more clinical with our passing from the back and that could well improve our final ball in attack too.

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Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage said it was "a sports decision" to drop Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand from the matchday squad in the 3-2 victory over Fulham.

"Sometimes players have to be shaken to come back and regain their level," said Sage.

Both players were substituted on in the 4-1 loss to Manchester City the previous week, but failed to have an impact on the game.

Sage said: "At the end, it's only one game. With a few games, everybody is excited with the situation – what's happened? Is there a problem? Or something like this.

"It's like this - they just have to take the information, to change things during the session, because they have the opportunity to show every week, and maybe they will come back with us on Tuesday."

Palace are next in action on Tuesday when they welcome Championship side Middlesbrough to Selhurst Park in the third round of the Carabao Cup (kick-off 19:45 BST).

Listen to full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 and BBC Sounds

Crystal Palace fan Ollie Thomas praised his side for their 3-2 win over Fulham on Saturday but asked: "Is the defence sturdy enough?"

The Eagles are scoring goals, but they are also leaking them at the back - the Fulham game was the ninth league game in a row in which they have conceded at least two goals.

Thomas continued: "We rode our luck, quite a lot. The defence probably wasn't sturdy enough still.

"But we won and that's the main thing and that takes pressure off the next game against Ipswich as well.

"If we beat Ipswich next week, that's two wins from four. I'd take that all day."

So, will you be happy with two wins from four if you beat Ipswich? Do Palace have problems in defence?

Get in touch with your views here

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

Tom: Who would have thought that replacing Premier League experience with novices on and off the pitch would backfire almost immediately? If we don't win before the international break, then Alvaro Arbeloa will have to go.

Brian: We knew it would be a massive change from Marco Silva as the majority of players were/are his and that losing Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez would change the dynamics. I can see what Alvaro is trying to achieve but it may take longer than some in the home crowd are prepared to accept. I'm not worried, there is too much quality in the squad, but we know football management is cursed, so let's see how it pans out.

Simon: Arbeloa's system can't defend but the board knew this when taking the gamble with him and the Real Madrid academy. This is a strategic error to chase player profits over Premier League stability. We've leaked seven goals in three league games. You can't stay in this division with that defence.

Russ: The managerial appointment was always going to be high risk but out of our supporters' hands. The manner in which we concede goals has to be a concern and with games against Liverpool and Manchester United coming up, this should have been at least our first point. Early days, but what I saw at Craven Cottage on Saturday is concerning.

Crystal Palace fans

Gary: It was great to get the win, but we are too open at the back and playing too high up the pitch. Offensively, we look good. The forward players need to be more clinical. We have Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta to come back, so I'm sure they will make the difference if they can get their heads right. I'm pleased for Tyrick Mitchell getting his first double. We have three home games now - games we should win. Hopefully, a good start in the cups and three points against Ipswich.

Steve: An entertaining game full of defensive frailties on both sides. One positive is that Palace scored three goals, but there is still cause for concern. Chris Richards was often caught out of position and Adam Wharton lacked control and dynamism. The team perhaps still needs time to gel, but a much-needed win is very welcome.

Derek: This win was huge, not only for the team and the new manager, but so important for the fans. Everyone's morale will be reinvigorated by this result. Must push on with ground improvements.

Andy: It was good to get the win in a competitive game. There are plenty of positives, one being the presence of Quinten Timber and the improved attacking intent of Tyrick Mitchell. Our defending appears chaotic, but this could be part of the new bonding process and could come good. We need to improve our distribution as we are giving the ball away too easily.

Laura Kenyon
Final Score reporter at Craven Cottage

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It took a while for the dust to begin to settle on a frantic and unpredictable game at Craven Cottage. Swinging in momentum, it was one for the neutral in most parts – until Crystal Palace fans were afforded the wild celebrations upon full-time.

While Ben Chilwell was the hero on the scoresheet, there is only one name on the lips of Palace fans: Tyrick Mitchell.

Two goals and a standout performance from the 27-year-old - "underrated" was the adjective cropping up again and again.

Mitchell, already a fan favourite having come up through the academy, was absolutely superb. A hard-working full-back who has only ever had a couple of opportunities for England on the international stage.

But it is also Mitchell's mannerisms and demeanour off the pitch which endear him to the Palace faithful.

Dean Henderson had to physically push him to the front, willing him to take sole credit, in front of the away end after the game. He is notoriously shy and unassuming; unwilling to ever take the spotlight and always deferring to the hard work of team-mates.

In a cutthroat world, Mitchell leads the pack, restoring our faith in footballers.

Match of the Day pundit and ex-Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy gives his analysis on Fulham's defending in their 3-2 defeat by Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage.

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist

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In a week where Crystal Palace said goodbye to Daniel Munoz - their former attack-minded right wing-back who has now joined Nottingham Forest - Tyrick Mitchell and Ben Chilwell showed goals from wing-backs are not disappearing.

All three goals showed intent and endeavour to get forward from deep positions, though Fulham's defence was lacking.

First, Mitchell was put through on goal by Eddie Nketiah. With his options of passing from the left limited by Fulham's Joachim Andersen, Mitchell fancied his chances of beating Bernd Leno at his near post. With a lashed striker that flew in via Bernd Leno's torso, Mitchell pulled Palace level.

Scoring for the second time in the space of 19 minutes and his first career double, Mitchell showed further attacking enterprise - more so than he should have been afforded.

His initial effort at the end of his galloping run forward was blocked and while Yeremy Pino's follow-up was cleared by Whites striker Gonzalo Garcia, Mitchell intervened and his block-turned-shot found its way into the net.

Chilwell, replacing Mitchell with under 20 minutes to go, picked up where Mitchell left off. Summer signing Anan Khalaili, starting in place of Munoz on the right, had his shot blocked but Chilwell followed in and converted to earn three points.

Both goalscorers were serenaded by the travelling Palace fans at full-time.

Munoz scored four league goals in each of the past two seasons from right wing-back, and Mitchell and Chilwell have made inroads to fill that attacking void.

But while Palace are scoring goals, they are leaking them at the back. This was the ninth league game in a row where Palace have conceded at least two goals, with Sage unable to stamp out the frailties that crept in at the end of Oliver Glasner's tenure.

But after two defeats to start the season, and staring down the barrel of a third at half-time, Palace showed promise at the start of a season that will include Europa League football.

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "The fans give us their best whenever they are with us. We need points, and the strength the fans give us is important. The result is positive but I am aware of the game, but sometimes it is like this, you have to take the points.

"We didn't play as we expected, I'm happy but disappointed for the other team and the coach because they had opportunities [to win] too.

"I am not happy with the way we defended, we have a lot of things to move. The confidence from this result can help us. It's like with a car, when you put petrol inside you can drive."

Crystal Palace full-back Tyrick Mitchell speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was a tough game, they were 2-1 up and we had a lot to do, but I'm happy I could contribute and get the win.

"That was the first time [I've been on a hat-trick], it felt weird but I've been trying to get into those positions more the past couple of seasons.

"The first goal Eddie [Nketiah] passed it to me and I heard him scream 'shoot'. Second one was right place, right time, a fluke goal."

On Palace finding joy down the left wing: "Both sides [left and right] were top today. We showed a lot of resilience. It wasn't the best game from us, you don't want to concede two goals, but it's not easy winning in the Premier League. You always want to get that first win over the line and build from that."

On adapting to new manager Pierre Sage: "Every manager has different tweaks they like doing. As players you have to adjust to it. Hopefully this is a stepping stone for us to get used to him."

Did you know?

• Crystal Palace have now conceded two or more goals in nine consecutive league games for the first time ever.

• Crystal Palace full-back Tyrick Mitchell netted a brace for the first time in his club career, with his two goals marking the first time he had been on the scoresheet in the Premier League in 36 games.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Fulham's performance

What did you make of Crystal Palace's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Newcastle v Bournemouth (12:30)

• Brentford v Sunderland

• Brighton v Leeds

• Fulham v Crystal Palace

• Man City v Coventry - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Nottingham Forest v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Hull v Aston Villa (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Tottenham" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Aston Villa match", for example.

New this season: Live match updates

Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

Image source, BBC Sport

New this season: Match of the Day Predictor

Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

Players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

Read more about it here

You can find the predictor in the navigation bar at the top of this page, or on this link

Neither of these teams have got a point so far, as I predicted.

On top of his side's poor start to the season, one of the problems for Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage will be dealing with Ismaila Sarr after he did not get a move to Liverpool before the transfer window shut.

My worry for Fulham is they have become a Real Madrid feeder team, and their boss Alvaro Arbeloa has already got issues with his squad.

He stuck the boot into his players after their defeat by Sunderland, questioning their mentality.

A first win would be massive for both new managers, but I don't think either of them will get it here.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Fulham host London rivals Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on Saturday (15:00 BST), with both teams looking for their first point of the season.

Fulham's campaign got off to the worst possible start when they conceded to neighbours Chelsea just 30 seconds into their opening match.

Defeat by the Blues was followed by another at Sunderland and while there will be no panic at the Cottage as new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa is still settling in, fans might be aware that only twice before have Fulham lost their first three games of a top-flight campaign (1951-52 and 2020-21). On both previous occasions, they went on to be relegated.

Fulham have also struggled against Palace in recent years, winning just two of their last 13 Premier League matches against the Eagles (D6, L5), with neither victory coming on home soil. They have failed to win any of the past eight times they have hosted Palace in all competitions (D3, L5), losing on each of the last three occasions.

Meanwhile, midfielder Alex Iwobi could make his 100th Premier League appearance for Fulham in this match, which would see the former Arsenal and Everton player join an elite group of men who have racked up centuries of Premier League appearances for three different clubs.

It's also been a shaky start for Crystal Palace who, like Fulham are without a point, and have conceded six goals, the joint-highest total in the top flight.

Palace had 12 clean sheets in the 2025-26 league campaign, with only Arsenal and Manchester City having more. Yet the Eagles have conceded at least two goals in each of their last eight Premier League matches – they've never done so in nine in a row in their entire league history.

Only relegated bottom two Burnley and Wolves scored fewer times than Palace in last season's Premier League and the Eagles' only goal so far in this campaign has been an own goal. It's not been an ideal start for new boss Pierre Sage, who is now in danger of losing three league games in a row for the first time in his managerial career.

But Palace do have a good record against Fulham. They won 2-1 on their last league visit to Craven Cottage in December and also beat the Whites by that scoreline in a pre-season encounter at Motspur Park a month ago.

Ella Gibbs
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at Craven Cottage (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are injury concerns going into the weekend for Ismala Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the Palace boss saying: "Sarr needs time to recover, he is injured at the moment," while Mateta "cannot play". He added: "As I said last time, Mateta is injured now for three weeks. Everyone else [is ok] apart from our long-term injuries - Chadi [Riad] and [JP] Mateta, every other player has recovered well."

• On Sarr being assessed again in January: "I don't think so. It is difficult to move teams when you are in this position. I just want to stay that the club and the people are respectful, we just want the best for our club and our players."

• Asked about the signings of Quinten Timber, Dario Osorio and Ben Chilwell, he explained: "We need this kind of player [Timber] because we have four players in this department, but they are a bit similar." In Osorio, he wanted "a player with speed" and with Chilwell, Sage said he will give Palace "experience and confidence".

• The Eagles boss insisted he was "happy" with Palace's transfer deadline day business, thought they "missed one, but it happens".

• On facing Fulham: "Football has no memory of what happened before, it can always be a challenge. There's a lot of new players and coaches on both sides. I'm really happy to play against them because we need a reference game for the moment."

• Sage said the "the game plan is the most important thing" for Saturday's match, and they "need to come up with the best plan for the team, it's only a plan. We will try to do it. We tried to do it in our two previous games."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Palace? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Steve Sutcliffe, Emlyn Begley and Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalists

Premier League clubs have broke their all-time summer transfer record with spending reaching £3.49bn.

A total of £506.5m was spent on deadline day itself, up from £391m last year.

The total amount spent during the window considerably dwarfs the £1.13bn spent by clubs just five years ago and underlines the power top English clubs have to attract talent, according to figures provided to BBC Sport by Paul Macdonald, founder of FootballTransfers.com.

Three of the 10 most expensive signings in the history of football have happened this summer – with all of them being Premier League signings. In fact, this summer window featured four of the top flight's five most expensive ever deals.

So maybe it is not surprising then that of the 20 most expensive transfers completed, only six were not to clubs in the English top flight.

Indeed, newly-promoted Ipswich have spent more on new signings than the likes of Barcelona, AC Milan, Juventus and reigning European champions PSG.

Premier League clubs as a whole were willing to dip deep into their pockets this summer, as 11 of the 20 clubs broke their transfer records, six of them on more than one occasion.

Coventry, promoted to the Premier League alongside Ipswich and Hull, have done so four times over.

Read more on the Premier League's record-breaking transfer spending