Crystal Palace

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  1. 'A Christmas gift for the fans'published at 16:32 15 December 2024

    Crystal Palace Manger Oliver Glasner during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Crystal Palace FC at Amex StadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner speaking to BBC Sport after the win: "All the credit goes to the players. We defended compact, we didn't give them many situations.

    "They changed their system and we struggled to put pressure on the ball. In this phase we needed Dean Henderson who made two or three big saves. The 3-0 was the moment that decided the game for us and it was a very positive performance.

    "We knew that if we were patient we would get better performances. Some players were not fit, new signings, but we didn't want to talk about this and look to be making excuses. We are getting more confident with how we want to play.

    "It was always clear for us that we would get better results. But it is not time to relax, it is time to keep going.

    "Our fans are always supporting us, especially after a difficult start. I said to the players today was a chance to give them a little bit back, a Christmas gift."

  2. Brighton 1-3 Crystal Palace: Did you know?published at 16:16 15 December 2024

    Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Crystal Palace FC at Amex StadiumImage source, Getty Images

    It was Palace's first win against Brighton since February 2021, ending a run of six winless Premier League fixtures against them (D4 L2). Each of the Eagles' last three Premier League wins against them have now come away from home.

  3. 'We are in a false position - today it all clicked' published at 16:11 15 December 2024

    Dean Henderson of Crystal Palace celebrates after Ismaila Sarr (not pictured) scored their sides second goal during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Crystal Palace FC at Amex StadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson speaking to Sky Sports after today's victory: "It's absolutely massive. The fans have been patient with us this season. We are in a false position, we have great players and today it all clicked.

    "We knew they would come out [in the second half] and it would be hard. Luckily I helped the team today.

    "When you're in that moment, you feel good, you feel unbeatable. Thankfully we got the third but unfortunately we conceded at the end.

    "They [the fans] have been on at us all week, telling us you can be a hero if we win this game."

  4. Sutton's predictions: Brighton v Crystal Palacepublished at 12:45 15 December 2024

    Chris Sutton and Stephen Bunting

    Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

    For week 16 he takes on darts star Stephen Bunting, who is a Liverpool fan.

    Bunting, who is ranked eighth in the Professional Darts Championship (PDC) order of merit, takes on Alan Soutar or Kai Gotthardt in the second round of the PDC World Championship, which starts at London's Alexandra Palace on Sunday.

    Sutton's prediction: 1-1

    No top-flight team has drawn more home games (four) than Brighton this season, and Crystal Palace have drawn the most in total (seven) of any Premier League side - including four of their past six games.

    As regular readers will know, I am happy to be led by statistics sometimes, and they make this the easiest prediction I have ever made.

    Bunting's prediction: 2-2

    There will definitely be goals in this one.

    Read the full predictions and have your say here

  5. 'Glasner is a great coach' - Hurzelerpublished at 12:30 14 December 2024

    Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler and Crystal Palace manager Oliver GlasnerImage source, Getty Images

    As Brighton prepare to host Crystal Palace in the Premier League this weekend, Fabian Hurzeler has been revealing all about his relationship with opposition manager and "great coach" Oliver Glasner.

    The two bosses got to know each other "a little bit" during their managerial spells in Germany, which happened to land at the same time, as Hurzeler took charge of St Pauli and Glasner led Eintracht Frankfurt.

    "When I was at St Pauli, we played a very similar system. We both played with five at the back," said Hurzeler.

    "He had great success with his former club, Frankfurt, winning a trophy with this club is a big thing. His style of play was outstanding. He was always very compact and very good in transition.

    "When he arrived at Crystal Palace, he immediately had an impact on the club and on the Premier League. That shows his quality."

    Hurzeler added that he has been in contact with Glasner since taking charge of the Seagulls in the summer: "We were in touch. We had some calls because we know each other a little bit.

    "He is very helpful and open-minded. He is a great coach.

    "He has achieved a lot of things and he is continuing to make a big career. He is a role model, I think, in how he acts and how humble and grounded he is.

    "He has the attitude to become a great manager."

  6. Glasner on Wharton, being 'more stable' and more clinicalpublished at 15:55 13 December 2024

    Katie Stafford
    BBC Sport journalist

    Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brighton (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • Midfielder Adam Wharton will not be available after having a reaction to Wednesday and Thursday's "intense" training sessions. Glasner is hopeful he will return to face Arsenal on Saturday, 21 December.

    • Defender Joel Ward is also unlikely to feature as he has been experiencing some issues with his calf.

    • Glasner confirmed Matheus Franca remains in rehabilitation and "if everything goes in the right direction", he will return to team training in the New Year.

    • He hopes some injured players will recover in the coming weeks because they "will need all of them in this busy period."

    • On midfielder Will Hughes, who impressed against Manchester City: "He's not just a performer - he's also a leader in the dressing room. His passing, his fighting spirit and he's one of the few players who is talking on the pitch. Every manager is looking for some guys who are talking on the pitch - he's one of them - so he's very important for our game."

    • He said Palace "are more stable" than they were at the start of the season, but "it's not about leaning back and relaxing" as there are still things to work on.

    • On what his side still need to improve on: "We have to improve our efficiency in front of the goal. We can be more clinical with the final pass, with finishing and with how we attack."

    • He said the Brighton game "is important for our fans, so it's important for us and we go there to take the win."

    • On what to expect from Fabian Hurzeler's side: "It's not too easy to prepare for this game because they are quite flexible. On the other side, especially in the last games, they conceded several goals and so there will be also be chances for us."

    Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

    Listen to live commentary of Brighton v Crystal Palace from 14:00 on Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Live

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  7. Brighton match could start defining week for Palace published at 13:23 11 December 2024

    Alex Howell
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    Crystal Palace expert view bannerImage source, BBC Sport
    Oliver Glasner issues instructions to his players from the dugoutImage source, Getty Images

    The fixture list in December is always busy for every club.

    Crystal Palace have started the month positively and picked up four points from their games against Ipswich - a first away win of the season - and Manchester City.

    The Eagles travel to rivals Brighton on Sunday just four points above the relegation zone, despite losing just one of their past seven Premier League games.

    Manager Oliver Glasner has said that midfielder Adam Wharton could be available for the trip to Amex Stadium - if he comes through training this week. That would be a huge boost to a squad starting to find its feet after a slow start.

    After the Brighton game, Palace take on Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

    It would be a big ask to expect the Eagles to win that game - but if they are able to get a result against Brighton and then beat what is currently an injury-hit Arsenal squad, their season could take on a totally different feeling in just a few days.

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  8. 'Hughes has long achieved cult status from the Selhurst crowd'published at 12:26 10 December 2024

    Alex Pewter
    Fan writer

    Crystal Palace fan's voice banner
    Crystal Palace midfielder Will HughesImage source, Getty Images

    Will Hughes' next appearance will be his 100th for Crystal Palace in all competitions. His arrival at the end of the 2021 summer transfer window was overshadowed by those of Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen and Michael Olise – but that has often been his role in the team.

    Largely unappreciated by then-manager Patrick Vieira, his role grew under Roy Hodgson, but has flourished under Oliver Glasner. It's fair to say that even heading into this season, he would have been considered a capable fourth choice in a group of four talented defensive midfielders—at least on paper.

    Yet, with a series of injuries to his competition, Hughes has been the consistent thread in midfield throughout the season. Against Manchester City, it was his turn to receive wider recognition for his footballing ability.

    Hughes has long achieved cult status from the Selhurst crowd. The calls of his name come with any completed pass, clattering tackle, or foul (tactical or otherwise). In the Premier League, the stat line reads one goal, five assists, and 22 likely deserved yellow cards, but notably never a red.

    Two of those assists came on Saturday. The first was after recovering the ball in midfield; his weighted-through ball broke the lines to free Daniel Munoz en route to the goal. The second was a rare Palace corner goal, the in-swinging ball finding Maxence Lacroix.

    More impressive is the fact that 13 years after making his senior debut for Derby County, he has been forced to remodel his game entirely. A creative force as a youngster, he had already made an England U21 debut aged 17 and a half, and a big move seemed inevitable.

    Injuries may have scuppered those hopes, but the tenacious midfielder of today still has those flashes to dribble clear of danger, play under pressure, and excel with the mental side of the game.

    With a rivalry game against Brighton next weekend, it's likely the first big challenge of the game will come from Hughes, and the fans will love him for it.

    Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

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  9. Crystal Palace 2-2 Man City - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:30 9 December 2024

    Your views banner
    Tyrick Mitchell and and Kyle Walker compete for the ballImage source, Getty Images

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

    Here are some of your comments:

    Crystal Palace fans

    Keith: Keith: The only reason Palace are near the bottom of the league are the injuries to key players. Now players are coming back to full fitness they will climb the table. This performance was very good but there's far more to come. I thought we could have won it, but a draw is a fair result.

    Christopher: Palace should play like that each week - pressing hard, great counter-attack and passing. Shame the chances Palace had didn't end up in the net. Some missed opportunities that I thought could have come back and punished us… Palace could have won comfortably - Well played Eagles!

    Bob: I've said it week in week out that both Will Hughes and Daniel Munoz are our best and consistent players in the team. They fight tirelessly on and off the ball in every game. We talk about losing Michael Olise, Joachim Andersen and possibly Marc Guehi, but losing both Will and Daniel would be a far greater loss.

    Neil: Last season, the Eagles had a strong finish, but have lost key players and it has taken time to produce some form this season. Given the league is so competitive, this is exacerbated by injuries; Palace don't have the depth of other London sides and it has taken a worryingly long time to find form. But a draw against City is a good result.

    Man City fans

    Brian: City are short of defensive pace and man-marking awareness. Palace again proved that City fear the direct ball and too often fail to pick up their man in the box. The lack of confidence in defence is leading to frustration in attack. It is Christmas and City are handing out gifts.

    Mark: We're miles off it this season, injuries or not. Even when we had a near fit squad and winning matches we weren't playing great, and now the injuries are piling up we've gone into freefall. Not sure Pep has any answers as to how we get out of it as well and it might be a top six fight the way it's going.

    Rich: City keep leaking early goals. Pep's rematch preparation must be at fault. That said the sending off of Rico Lewis when he was fouled was bad refereeing.

    Pat: Not for the first time this season, the starting line-up baffled me. Other than Kevin de Bruyne and Ruben Dias, our two best players mid-week were Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku, so to me were dead certs to start this game.Jack brings control, creativity and virtually never gives the ball away. Jeremy terrorises defenders on the left. The issue was a lack of control in midfield and Jack (along with KDB and Ilkay Gundogan) would have brought this today.

    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.
  10. Hughes stood out 'in midfield full of stars'published at 08:06 9 December 2024

    Chris Wise
    BBC Final Score at Selhurst Park

    Will Hughes playing for Crystal PalaceImage source, Getty Images

    Will Hughes nabbing two assists against Manchester City at the weekend might have caught your eye.

    But even if you remove those two moments of creativity, the Crystal Palace man was immense in a midfield area stacked with stars.

    Hughes played with that typical tenaciousness and hunger that you associate with his game. He has certainly not been a regular starter in this Palace team in recent years, but he has never let them down, and his performances sometimes go under the radar.

    Give Hughes his flowers - he fully deserves the attention.

  11. Crystal Palace 2-2 Manchester City: Eagles picking up form?published at 17:31 7 December 2024

    Emlyn Begley
    BBC Sport journalist

    Daniel MunozImage source, Getty Images

    This is now four games unbeaten for Palace – although three of them have been draws.

    There were plenty of positive signs from this game that they can climb up the table.

    Will Hughes had one of his highly influential games with two fantastic assists for Palace defenders.

    And he could have had a goal or two himself only for Ruben Dias to block his efforts.

    Boss Oliver Glasner warned afterwards that they will never return to the team they were last season - but the 2024-25 side are definitely showing some positive signs now.

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  12. 'After 2-1 we got too passive'published at 17:26 7 December 2024

    Oliver Glasner managing Crystal PalaceImage source, Getty Images

    Oliver Glasner spoke to BBC Spory after Crystal Palace drew with Manchester City: We are pleased with the point and many parts of the performance. It feels like if we'd performed at our best level we could have won the game.

    "We had a few other good opportunties.

    "An unbeaten week with draws against Newcastle and Manchester City, everything is fine. We want to improve and get better in some situations and we could win those games.

    "After having the lead twice, especially after 2-1 we got too passive. It's not that easy against City, it's not a crticism of the players but when you're in your own third it's a matter of time. A gap of one yard they find it with one or two touches.

    "An amazing finish from Danny. They were missing several headers, defenders, it's an advantage. It's not easy to find where you're better than City. We have many.

    "We never will see the team of last season because 10 players left us. The players are in a very good situation and shape. We have more and more options. The results give us confidence."