Overview
- A 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle on Sunday extended Palace’s winless run to four games and left them in the relegation zone with the worst defence in the league.
- Board members have begun private contingency planning and media reports say they are drawing up a shortlist of possible replacements including Sean Dyche, Thomas Frank, Vitor Pereira and Robbie Keane.
- Palace have conceded 19 Premier League goals so far and insiders including former executives have urged the club to sign a centre-back in January after the summer sales of Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz weakened options at the back.
- Supporter hostility grew at Selhurst Park where players were booed at full-time, while Sage has insisted there is “no noise” inside the club and that he retains the backing of players and the hierarchy.
- The coming fixtures and the January transfer window are now framed as decisive: the board will judge short-term results and recruitment needs before making any final call on the manager’s future.