Pierre Sage regrets 'missed 15 minutes' as defeat increases heat on Crystal, former Palace manager

Crystal Palace lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle, with manager Sage blaming a 15-minute lapse in concentration after half-time as Palace's defensive woes continue.

Crystal Palace suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle, extending their poor run to back-to-back Premier League losses. Manager Pierre Sage identified a 15-minute period after half-time as the turning point, saying his side lost concentration and allowed Newcastle to take the initiative without pressure.

Palace have now conceded 19 goals in eight games, the worst defensive record in the Premier League. Sage acknowledged the defensive struggles but defended his philosophy of controlling possession as the best way to defend, noting that Palace have had less possession than all but the three promoted sides. Newcastle scored with both their shots on target, while Palace conceded two goals to Beşiktaş on Thursday in similar fashion.

Sage insisted he remains the right man for the job and said there has been no discussion about his future with Palace chair Steve Parish, despite the club sitting 17th. Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle was pleased with the clean sheet, describing it as fundamental to football despite his side not playing their best in possession.