Crystal Palace give Pierre Sage more time after Newcastle defeat

Crystal Palace have given Pierre Sage more time as manager despite their difficult start to the season, the Guardian reported on Tuesday. Chairman Steve Parish has decided against an immediate change following the 2-0 defeat by Newcastle, with the club facing a short gap between fixtures and Sage still under pressure to improve results.

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The Newcastle loss followed a 5-0 defeat by Brighton. According to the Guardian, Sage had been warned after that earlier result that his position would be at risk without a quick improvement. The decision to retain him therefore comes after a further league setback, rather than a recovery in Palace's domestic results.

Palace are 17th in the Premier League and have conceded 19 goals in their opening eight league matches, more than any other team in the division. Sage, formerly in charge of Lens, has overseen only 12 matches at the club. His difficult opening spell has followed the departure of Oliver Glasner.

The Guardian reported that the compressed schedule influenced Parish's decision not to make an immediate managerial change. Palace visit Fulham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before travelling to Tottenham in the league on Saturday. The report described the Tottenham match as important to Sage's future, but did not say a dismissal had been decided.

There have also been personnel problems during the poor run. Axel Disasi, signed on loan from Chelsea to replace Maxence Lacroix, has only recently returned from a three-match suspension. Ismaïla Sarr missed the Newcastle defeat after his groin injury recurred, having already been sidelined with the problem earlier in the season. Sarr was Palace's player of the year last season.

Away from the league defeats, Palace drew 2-2 at Besiktas in the Europa League during the previous week, while Jean-Philippe Mateta has returned from injury. The Guardian also reported that Sage retained backing within the squad, with two senior players sending messages of support. For now, the manager remains in place, with the reported decision offering him more time but no assurance about his longer-term position.