Fans Turn on Sage as Palace Face Growing Pressure After 2-0 Home Defeat

Pierre Sage came under intensified pressure at Selhurst Park on Sunday after Crystal Palace lost 2-0 to Newcastle in the Premier League, their fifth defeat in eight top-flight matches and a result that drew boos from home supporters.

Sage, who took over from Oliver Glasner four months into a three-year contract, replaced a manager who delivered an FA Cup, a European trophy and a Community Shield during two years in charge; Palace are now in the bottom four following a run of four winless matches. The defeat followed last weekend's 5-0 loss at Brighton and left the club searching for answers on and off the pitch.

Asked about speculation over his future in his post-match media conference, Sage said: "There is no noise inside the club." He added: "The boos are normal because we don't have the result. "The noise is the consequence of the result of the team, and at the moment we don't have what we expect. "Inside, we are just really focused on solutions. How to be better, how to create the conditions to compete, and we will continue our work, and there's no noise inside." When queried specifically about boos during the match and at full-time he said: "It's normal that people lose patience when you lose, because everybody wants to win. Today it was not the case."

Sage, named Ligue 1 manager of the year after leading Lens to a second-place finish and a French Cup triumph, addressed questions about his job for 20 minutes and struck a defiant note. "I don't have to convince the people around the club. I just have to convince the players to do their best to compete and to continue to improve," he said. "After that, this kind of decision is for the chairman, to the owners, this kind of person. "For me, the noise around the team, the noise around the club, it's only noise."

Palace have collected seven points from their first eight league games since Glasner's departure, having lost to Everton and Manchester City in their opening two fixtures, won at Fulham, lost at home to Ipswich, drawn 0-0 at Leeds and beaten Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park on 11 October — their last victory. They have since lost at Lyon in the Europa League and Brighton, and drew 2-2 against Besiktas in Istanbul on Thursday before Sunday's defeat by Newcastle.

Defensive problems have compounded Palace's troubles: they have conceded 19 goals in eight Premier League games, the worst defensive record in the division, and have conceded 50 Premier League goals in 2026, the most of any club. Sage's former Lens side were noted for aggressive pressing; Opta recorded that Lens made 426 high turnovers during the 2025-26 season, producing 69 shots and seven goals from those moments, but Palace have struggled to replicate that output under Sage's leadership.

French football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live that Sage needed to be more ruthless, saying: "He's a lovely guy. He's maybe a little bit too nice at times." Laurens added: "You don't feel sorry in this league. This Premier League is ruthless. It's the top, top level. This is the best league in the world. You can't feel sorry for the opposition you have just beaten, especially when this is your first win and you needed it badly."

Former Manchester United and England forward Dion Dublin, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "It's no good being lovely with everything. Things can't be lovely when you are a Premier League manager. You will just lose games and get sacked." Former Leeds United forward Lucy Ward told 5 Live: "He has proved himself at Lyon and Lens. Being a little bit too nice doesn't help."

Palace travel to Tottenham next Saturday, host Liverpool on 8 November before the international break, and return to league action at Coventry City on 21 November.