Crystal Palace

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Crystal Palace captain Dean Henderson has reiterated that he is "fully behind" manager Pierre Sage before Thursday night's important Europa League clash with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim (17:45 GMT).

The goalkeeper, who is waiting to make his first European appearance of the season after returning from an ankle injury, also said he is approaching the upcoming run of games "with a lot of optimism".

Speaking in a pre-match news conference, Henderson said: "There is a lot of faith around the group. It is all about togetherness in times like these. I'm sure we will come out the other end of it.

"We have a great group of lads here that roll their sleeves up when times get tough. It isn't the first time we've been here and I'm sure it won't be the last, so we will find a way through it. Everyone is together."

When quizzed about Crystal Palace sitting in the Premier League relegation zone, Henderson replied: "You only have to look at where Tottenham were a couple of weeks ago compared to where they are now - things can change really quickly.

"We know what it takes. We are full of confidence we will turn things around, sooner rather than later. We just need to take the rough with the smooth, and hopefully we will be laughing about times like this in a few months time."

He also called Pierre Sage a "brilliant manager" with an "exciting style", adding: "If we tighten things up at the back, we will be in good shape. I am fully behind him."

When asked what has given him such optimism, the goalkeeper explained: "When new coaching staff come in, you don't always see instant results and you don't always expect things to gel straightaway.

"Sometimes these things take time. My thoughts are that we are just going to keep getting better and stronger throughout this season, and I'm looking forward to that.

"I'm encouraged by the way the manager wants us to play, but it is down to us as players to carry that out. We just need to keep improving and getting better."

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game against Hoffenheim at Selhurst Park (kick-off 17:45 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Quinten Timber and Jorgen Strand Larsen, who have both been out injured since Crystal Palace's 2-2 draw with Besiktas, will be ready to play.

• Takehiro Tomiyasu will not return to action before the November international break. Ismaila Sarr is managing an ongoing groin problem. Chadi Riad is continuing his rehabilitation for a long-term knee injury.

• Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has scored one goal in five appearances this season, "wants to change things" after picking up a straight red card and a three-game domestic suspension last time out.

• Sage said it is "exciting" and "a good thing" to be competing in four different competitions this season, despite this being their eighth match in 25 days.

• He added: "The process of preparation is always the same. The difference is the time we have to prepare before the games. We have managed three training sessions before this game, which is really important because we need time to work in our situation."

• The "most important thing" is coming away from this fixture with three points and moving closer to qualifying for the knockout rounds.

• On what he has been working on with his players: "We are trying to improve offensively, especially in the way we play through the back of our opponents' last line. We didn't attack the way we had decided beforehand in our past two games, so that's why we have gone back over it."

• Sage also recognised that Crystal Palace's results are "not at the level at the moment", but he stood firm in his belief that "with time and hard work" the results will improve.

• He added: "When you believe in your work and you give your best every day, consequently you believe you will get the results. If we, as staff and players, didn't give our life to this every day then I wouldn't be optimistic, but I see it."

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Jean-Philippe Mateta will miss Crystal Palace's next three Premier League fixtures after losing an appeal against the red card he picked up against Tottenham last time out.

The striker has particularly struggled for form and fitness this season, scoring just one goal in five appearances, despite netting 16 times across 50 appearances in all competitions last term.

Mateta was initially shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver, which was later upgraded to a straight red card after a video assistant review, for a late challenge on Micky van de Ven just 13 minutes into the match.

The France forward will now miss Liverpool (H) on 8 November, Coventry City (A) on 21 November and Hull City (H) on 29 November.

However, he will be able to feature in Crystal Palace's Europa League fixtures against Hoffenheim on 5 November and Real Sociedad on 26 November.

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Former England international Nathaniel Clyne is set to join United States League side Sporting Club Jacksonville

Clyne, 35, left Crystal Palace at the end of last season when his contract expired and is a free agent.

He has agreed to continue his career in the USA and is on the verge of signing with the Florida-based club.

Former Brentford and Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton is sporting director at Sporting Club Jacksonville and played a key role in Clyne's move.

Clyne enjoyed an accomplished career in England, making 14 appearances at senior international level.

Having come through the ranks at Palace, the versatile defender moved to Southampton before Liverpool signed him in 2015 for £12.5m.

Clyne returned to Palace in 2020 and was part of the squad that helped the club deliver the FA Cup and European Conference League trophies.

England assistant manager Anthony Barry has emerged as a candidate to replace Pierre Sage, if the Frenchman is sacked by Crystal Palace. (Mirror), external

Minnesota United forward Kelvin Yeboah - nephew of Leeds United and Ghana hero Tony Yeboah - is on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs, with Everton, Crystal Palace and Sunderland all in the market for a striker. (Talksport), external

Want more football stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Crystal Palace fan Thomas from BBC Sport's Fan Collective says Pierre Sage "could be staring down the barrel" after what he described as a "frustrating" game against Tottenham.

"It felt like Saturday could and should have been the real start of our season, away at Spurs, a tough game again that I didn't expect us to win.

"We had the opportunity to make a statement and show the world that we are a better team than one that currently belongs in the relegation zone.

"After 10 minutes Jean-Philippe Mateta gets sent off, it is probably a red card. As a Palace fan, I'm very frustrated that it was given, not because of the nature of the foul but he missed the whole of that game and then misses the next three, which is Liverpool, Coventry and Hull.

"These are massive games in our season and ultimately it turns Saturday from one of the biggest games that we've had this season into a waste of everyone's time - we ultimately learnt nothing.

"We now go into a massive week for Pierre Sage, one that could be his last for Palace unless we get two very positive results.

"The fact that Liverpool on Sunday is a must-win game is a massive concern for me. That shouldn't have to be a must-win game at this stage.

"It feels hard for Sage to turn this season around despite starting with a lot of promise, with a lot of attacking intent and some good patterns.

"The goals have dried up in the League, our striker is suspended for three games and the defence is by far the leakiest in the division. I do empathise with Sage, he's had a lot of issues this season, a lot of of them have not been his fault.

"It's a shame, he's a good bloke and I feel, like I've said before, that I like him and I wanted it to work and he has been desperately unlucky. But it just feels like we're sliding and sliding. In the Premier League it is something you can't get away with for too long.

"We're lucky there are a lot of teams right now that are also struggling."

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here

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

Here are some of your comments:

Spurs fans

Errol: We didn't play as well as last week at Chelsea but it was great to get another three points on the board and keep another clean sheet. We are playing much more like a team now rather then a bunch of individuals as we were in those first five games. Just wish our forwards would start scoring now and we'll be fine, onwards and upwards.

Tom: Played well against a poor opposition with 10 men but, unfortunately, the missing link is still blatantly obvious. Spurs desperately need a goalscorer. Dominic Solanke had one shot, that's not good enough. Roll on January.

Richard: We looked controlled against a limited Palace side. Sandro Tonali is starting to look the part and both wide men had decent games. Omar Marmoush still makes poor decisions in the final third and we should have made the game look even more comfortable with a third and fourth goal. Overall, a solid performance and rarely looked in trouble, but we will need to be more clinical to keep upward trajectory.

Neil: Good result. Positive signs. Even getting some luck! Still a work in progress and a long way to go. Attitude, passion, running, teamwork are the key elements previously missing - now we must not lose them.

Palace fans

Sean: We are in trouble. Jean-Philippe Mateta has earned himself a three-match mini-break. Ismaila Sarr is a ghost. Feel sorry for Pierre Sage - he's never had the full complement of players at his disposal. But has he got the chops to turn this around?

John: Going forward, I really like Sage ball. But when it comes to keeping the opposition out, we just can't defend. Outscoring the opposition in each match is just not a realistic outcome to expect.

Stephen: Give Sage more time. He's not been able to field a settled defence, midfield or attack. At times the team has looked woeful, but just as often they've looked bright and exciting. Patience needed!

Adrian: The game was gone as soon the red card came out. Our defence is just not good enough, which is partly down to lack of recruitment but also the current players are not good enough and clearly there are some technical coaching issues. Zonal marking also an issue. We won't get anything against Liverpool because our forward line is injured or suspended, the coach looks resigned and the fans have some issues with other aspects of the club. Not a great feeling at the moment.

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Newport County manager Hayden Mullins is relishing a game against the club that gave him his big break on Tuesday.

The Exiles welcome Crystal Palace Under-21s to Rodney Parade in what is realistically a qualification shoot-out in the EFL Trophy.

Mullins will hope to get one over the Eagles, who he played for 257 times, and captained, after coming through as a trainee.

"It's the club that gave me my first break in professional football," said Mullins, who made his Palace debut as a teenager under Terry Venables in 1998.

"I will never forget Crystal Palace, they are a team that I hold close to my heart because I was captain for a number of years after coming through the youth team.

"It's a fantastic club and I only have good things to say about them."

Nonetheless, Mullins would love to extend Newport's unbeaten Rodney Parade record this season against the young Eagles.

"I know Darren Powell well having played with him and he will have them set up to be aggressive," he said.

"They will have loads of energy and these are always tricky games because under-21s come with a lot of enthusiasm.

"It's almost their cup final, I did it with Fulham and these games are ones where the young players really want to impress."

The Exiles will qualify for the knockout stages if they avoid defeat against the young Eagles.

If it is a draw then Palace could go level on points with Newport by winning the penalty shootout, but County would have a superior goal difference.

It is still possible for both sides to go through but it would require a Palace shootout victory and Plymouth suffering a heavy defeat by Swindon on Tuesday, 10 November.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Crystal Palace head coach Pierre Sage is in deep trouble after the loss at Spurs left them rooted in the bottom three - but it was hard not to feel a measure of sympathy for the Frenchman who succeeded Oliver Glasner in the summer.

Sage would have been desperate for Palace to build on the relief of victory in the Carabao Cup win at Fulham, but a bright start was totally undermined by Jean-Philippe Mateta's wild tackle.

Palace were also guilty of poor marking - or no marking - at the Mohamed Kudus corner that saw Archie Gray score the opener for Spurs 12 minutes later.

Sage's side continued to show determination to stay in the fight, while Palace's travelling support actually chanted the manager's name in the second half, before they were eventually over-run, with keeper Dean Henderson making several fine late saves.

This was not the performance of players who have given up on their head coach, who had a hard act to follow after Glasner won the FA Cup and Uefa Conference League, but results dictate all and Palace's have been poor as they now sit in the relegation places.

Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage, speaking to BBC Match of the Day about Jean-Philippe Mateta's red card: "No, I think the decision is normal. We touched a player where we couldn't touch him. That is why the red card came. I have nothing to comment on.

"We chose to be more compact and to let the ball to the opponent, and we took this first goal on set-pieces. During half-time, we take other objective to stay like this until minute 75."

On the future: "I am the first to help the team. For sure, I have things to do. That is why I make the plan to come back after minute 75 with substitutions.

"Hopefully, it was not as we expected, but I am the first responsible for things. I have to find solutions. You can trust in me, that I will be on the pitch on Monday and to push for the team to win against Liverpool.

"It is a problem with performance at the moment as a team we can be better, especially with the ball."

Did you know?

• Crystal Palace have conceded six headed goals in the Premier League this season, twice as many as any other side (Chelsea and Aston Villa three). Both of Spurs' goals this evening were headed.

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

Have your say on Tottenham'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 eight games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Chelsea v Manchester United (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Leeds United

• Brentford v Nottingham Forest

• Coventry City v Sunderland - first half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, second half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Hull City v Ipswich Town

• Manchester City v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Tottenham v Crystal Palace (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Aston Villa v Fulham (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

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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.

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Improving Tottenham are aiming to make it three wins in a row as they take on a Crystal Palace side who are struggling to find form under new boss Pierre Sage.

BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes ahead of Saturday's game (17:30 GMT).

Tottenham on upward trajectory

While Tottenham fans entered their match with Coventry two weeks ago quietly optimistic that they would finally collect a first league victory of the season, such is their astonishingly poor record at Chelsea that even the most positive of fans would have wavered over predicting they would make it two wins on the bounce.

But they defied expectation and history in style with a stunning 2-0 victory – only their second at Stamford Bridge since 1990 – that indicated that coach and team are finally in sync and ready to climb the table after such a wretched start.

A pair of wins is only one fewer than they managed across their previous 26 top-flight matches combined and prior to the Coventry fixture they had won a total of just three league games in 2026. But Roberto de Zerbi's side now have the chance to secure a hat-trick of victories for the first time since February 2025, under Ange Postecoglou.

Having recorded what was only a sixth win in 37 home league games in their last outing in front of their own fans, De Zerbi will want to press on and establish the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as a tough place to visit.

Scoring a bit earlier in games wouldn't do any harm either, as six of their eight league goals this season have come in the final 15 minutes of matches and the average minute of their goals scored in is the 74th, the latest of any top-flight side. As a sidenote, those eight goals have all been scored by eight different players, including one from Chelsea keeper Mike Penders.

And another quirky stat to finish, following those wins over Coventry and Chelsea, Tottenham can become the first side to win three in a row against sides all beginning with the same letter since Burnley beat West Ham, West Brom and Watford in March/April 2018.

Palace proving too easy to breach

Tottenham away used to be a trip of trepidation across London for Crystal Palace fans but the tide has certainly turned in recent years.

After nine straight top-flight losses at Spurs they have won on their last two visits, with their 3-1 victory in March particularly impressive.

However, this is a Palace team in a very different spot. Defeat to Newcastle on Sunday was their fifth in just eight league matches under new boss Pierre Sage.

They sit 17th having conceded a top-flight high of 19 goals in eight matches, the second most they have let in at this stage of a top-flight season after 22 in 1980-81.

Of the 24 previous Premier League teams to concede 19 after eight games, 14 went on to be relegated. And another concerning stat is that they have let in at least two goals in 12 of their last 14 top-flight games.

These defensive frailties, though, can't all be put at Sage's feet as they predate the Frenchman's summer arrival. Their tally of conceding 50 goals in 2026 is not only a Premier League high, but it's also six more than they conceded in the whole of 2025 and they still have 10 league matches to play this year.

This loss of form in the top flight has been gradually creeping in. When they beat Fulham on 7 December last year they rose to the heady heights of fourth, but since that date their 17 defeats and 58 goals conceded are both the most by any Premier League club.

Reaching the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup in midweek will have been good for morale, but unless Sage sorts out their league form his Eagles tenure may well be cut short.

Crystal Palace are through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after beating Fulham on Wednesday and it felt like Eagles boss Pierre Sage needed that result because of his side's poor league form.

Tottenham are on the up at the moment though and they performed really well in their win at Chelsea even if they did need a bit of luck along the way with Mike Penders punching their first goal into his own net.

However they manage it, the important thing for Spurs is they have found a way of getting results now and I can see them getting another one here.

I do worry for Sage because it seems a lot of Palace fans are uncertain about him and feel his team are too easy to get at.

Because of that, I am going for Spurs to score a couple more goals here.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Crystal Palace fan Ollie Thomas says the highlight of their League Cup victory at Fulham was Cheick Doucoure returning to action for the first time since January 2025.

Since being named as the Palace fan's player of the year in 2023, his maiden campaign at Selhurst Park, the 26-year-old has struggled with numerous injuries including a ruptured achilles and a meniscus tear.

"Obviously this isn't the same Doucoure - and it will take him a while to get up to speed - but the biggest compliment I can give him is that he didn't look out of place," said Ollie. "In the middle of the pitch, his profile is exactly what we have been missing this season.

"[Quinten] Timber has been good, but he is a little bit too aggressive. [Adam] Wharton needs cover with him because he is not especially physical. We don't have a true number six who can get the ball from deep and progress like Wharton but also win the ball back like Timber, but also sit further back like Will Hughes.

"We need an amalgamation of those players and Doucoure could be just that for the rest of the season. I don't want to put any pressure on him because it's his first minutes in almost two years, but if that can be this season, alongside Wharton, that could be perfect."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Spurs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Jean-Philippe Mateta is "ready to play and to start" after being rested for the Carabao Cup tie against Fulham. Sage explained: "I managed him because he had played two 60-minute periods in the past seven days. Normally he only has to play two 30-minute periods, so that's why we left him out."

• However, Ismaila Sarr is "not able to play" and expected to be out until after the November international break.

• Jorgen Strand Larsen will return to first-team training on Thursday and Quinten Timber on Friday. Both players could feature this weekend.

• On whether his rotated side, which reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, gave him food for thought: "Yes. Some players need those kind of games to find their habits and show their real level. Some of them gave me a good message and it is always better to have more solutions."

• He didn't know the Crystal Palace fans were chanting his name on Wednesday night, but he realised after reading a social media post. He added: "It is always a good sign. I want to thank them, but I prefer when they are behind the whole team rather than me alone. The team need it more than me, but it is really appreciated by me."

• It was encouraging to see Cheick Doucoure "enjoying playing with his team-mates", "wearing the jersey proudly" and "sharing the special moment" with the fans last time out, following a long road to recovery from a meniscus tear.

• "I don't know if they fully understand my English," Sage joked when asked if his players are getting to grips with his style of play. He added: "I'm sure the players sometimes have better ideas and solutions than those I've thought about before games. That's why we create a collective way of playing, but it is important for the players to also think outside the box and show their talent."

• He added: "I see that as the best way for us to improve for the moment because we need stability and we need to play as a team."

• Tottenham's £300m spending in the summer transfer window is "difficult to analyse" because "Premier League prices are always higher than other leagues", but Sage believes it showed a level of "ambition" from their opposition.

• When asked about Roberto de Zerbi, he replied: "I know him really well. I know how he wants to play. I see him moving them in a good direction. In the first few games of the season, it was clear they needed time to figure out a way to play together, but now they are competing at a better level."

• On facing heavyweights Tottenham and Liverpool, before taking on promoted clubs Coventry City and Hull City, as a team just one point above the relegation zone: "Every point smells good. We will play all of these games to take points. We aren't in a position to choose one game over another."

Listen to full commentary of Tottenham v Crystal Palace on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Carabao Cup ties between Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

James: Fulham were awful. They had good chances in the first half but did not take them. Crystal Palace outplayed them in the second half. Both their so-called strikers are simply not up to the task. They need a new coach, two strikers and a central defender to replace Andersen. Relegation looming.

Guy: Frustrating to see so many shots straight at the keeper. Passing the ball left and right with 75% control but no outcome. We need a couple of players who can beat a keeper in January, or it'll be a long, hard season.

Phil: Absolute rubbish! Palace let us have all the possession knowing we wouldn't do anything with it. Just took their one chance and that was that. So frustrating, as expected. So useless.

James: It is hard to blame the manager right now, when the final ball is so poor and the strikers have nothing to feast on. When the chances do arrive, there is a distinct lack of composure, meaning we are far too easy to defend against. The players look as frustrated as the fans feel, and I fear, unless the squad finds a bit more speed and intensity, it's going to be a tough few weeks for everyone in the squad, including the manager.

Crystal Palace fans

Rich: Really poor defensively in the first half but much improved in the second and probably should have added a second goal towards the end. Team showed more character, probably because of the return of Henderson. Richards back to his best and a great finish by Nketiah.

Paul: A win and a welcome clean sheet. Henderson looked incredibly rusty though.

Mike: Sage proved those who said he cannot organise a defence wrong, even with 10 changes to the starting line-up. Richard's was outstanding and was easily man of the match. We now need to do it in the league with a tough game this weekend.

Lee: A morale-boosting win, a clean sheet and an improvement all round. Henderson made a big difference, Osorio showed glimpses, Mingueza played well and Hughes stiffened up the midfield. Great also to see Doucoure back. The fans are well behind the team and Sage. Need to build on this and still a lot to work and improve on both as a team and individually.

Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage on fans singing his name during the 1-0 Carabao Cup win at Fulham: "The fans are really behind us.

"They are happy when the team is like this. The connection between them and us is better when we play like this, when we fight on the pitch.

"It's not only about the result. It's about what kind of team we are and what kind of play we are able to do. I think we struggled a lot in the play, because (Fulham) had the initiative. But we defended the small things we built.

"That was the way to win. It's not the ideal way, but sometimes it's good to win (like this). I'm happy for them."

On blowing a kiss to fans: "It was to my wife. I like the fans but I love my wife."

On Cheick Doucoure making his first start in 662 days: "For me it's the beautiful thing of the day," said Sage. "He's suffered a lot, waited a lot, fought a lot to come back. He has the pleasure to be on the pitch and to play football.

"You understand the really important thing. For him and for his team-mates, the most important thing is to see him happy."