Palace Week in Review, Monday 26th October: Pierre Sage Under Mounting Pressure as Winless Run Stretches to Four
It has been a torrid week for Pierre Sage, with the heat on the Palace boss intensifying after the heavy 5-0 defeat to Brighton and continuing through two more results that did little to ease the mood around Selhurst Park. Sky Sports reported the Frenchman is under increasing pressure following the Brighton thrashing (Sky Sports), while Sports Mole and GiveMeSport both carried reports naming potential replacements being considered, including Parker, McKenna, Edwards and Matos, with suggestions Palace may even target a "world-class" coach (Sports Mole) (GiveMeSport) (GiveMeSport). The Guardian struck a slightly different tone, reporting that Sage has been given more time by the club to sort out defensive problems, though he remains under serious scrutiny (The Guardian). Sky Sports' reporter notebook added that chairman Steve Parish has earmarked the Besiktas and Newcastle games as a window for Sage to turn things around (Sky Sports), and The Sun quoted Palace legend Clinton Morrison warning that another heavy defeat to Newcastle could prove fatal for the manager (The Sun).
Unfortunately for Sage, the Newcastle game did not go Palace's way. Sky Sports, The Sun, News Shopper, The Guardian and BBC Sport all reported on a 2-0 home defeat at Selhurst Park, with second-half goals from Will Osula and Harvey Barnes settling it after a poor first-half display (Sky Sports) (The Sun) (News Shopper) (The Guardian) (BBC Sport). BBC Sport noted the loss leaves Palace just a point outside the relegation zone and stretches their winless run to four matches (BBC Sport). Sage gave his reaction afterwards, pointing to a costly spell of lost concentration in the game as the difference (CPFC.co.uk) (CPFC.co.uk) (The Guardian), while Richards said the group have to learn from the moments that cost them (CPFC.co.uk). BBC Sport also spoke to a Palace fan who suggested that whoever lands Thomas Frank as manager will be the one who stays up, reflecting the growing unrest among supporters (BBC Sport) (BBC Sport).
There was a touch more encouragement in Europe in midweek. Palace travelled to Istanbul to face Besiktas in the Europa League and came away with a 2-2 draw, ending a two-game losing run according to Sky Sports, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Yeremy Pino on the scoresheet after Wilfred Ndidi had put the hosts ahead (Sky Sports) (Sky Sports). News Shopper noted Mateta's goal was his first since the opening day of the season and that Palace could not find a winner despite Besiktas having a man sent off (News Shopper) (News Shopper). The Eagles Beak felt Palace showed real character on the night even with the pressure still very much on Sage (The Eagles Beak), and Sage himself said afterwards that his side played well without getting the result their performance merited (CPFC.co.uk) (CPFC.co.uk). GiveMeSport pointed to one Palace player's performance in Istanbul as proof he should now be a regular starter (GiveMeSport).
On the transfer front, Football365 reported that Mateta is said to want a move to Manchester United in January, as part of reported wider striker plans at Old Trafford, though this remains firmly in the realm of speculation at this stage (Football365).
Off the pitch, Palace's long-standing matchday mascot has been in the headlines, with PETA calling on the club to retire its bald eagle mascot, Phoenix, with BBC Sport, The Guardian, ESPN and the Evening Standard all covering the story and quoting the group's concerns about using a live animal in a "bright stadium filled with boisterous fans" (Evening Standard) (ESPN) (The Guardian) (BBC Sport) (BBC Sport).
In the women's game, it was a difficult week too. Palace Women were beaten on the south coast (CPFC.co.uk), and then lost 3-1 at home to Chelsea in the Women's Super League, with Molly Bartrip's goal for Palace cancelled out by a Melvine Malard double and a Sandy Baltimore strike as Sonia Bompastor's side came from behind to win (Sky Sports).
Elsewhere, there was a landmark moment for Tyrick Mitchell as he reflected on reaching 250 Palace appearances, discussing his trophies and teammates along the way (CPFC.co.uk) (CPFC.co.uk). Fans also learned of fixture changes further down the line, with talkSPORT reporting amended kick-off times for Palace's December meetings with Manchester United and Arsenal (talkSPORT). Locally, the Evening Standard reported on plans for a community sauna to be built in Crystal Palace Park, aimed at serving around 200 daily visitors (Evening Standard).
This round-up is written with the help of AI, using only the day's headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.