Following a 2-0 loss to Newcastle, Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage identified a specific 15-minute window early in the second half as the primary cause of the defeat. Sage noted that his team allowed the opposition to take control of the match without providing a sufficient response, stating, "We missed 15 minutes when we came back from the dressing room."

This loss adds to a difficult run for the club, which has conceded 19 goals across its last eight matches. The current defensive performance marks a significant decline compared to the previous season, when Sage’s former team, Lens, maintained the second-best defensive record in France's Ligue 1. Despite the mounting pressure and the team's poor defensive statistics, Sage maintained that he remains the appropriate person to manage Crystal Palace. He acknowledged the severity of the situation, noting that the frequency of goals conceded is a primary concern for the squad moving forward.