PIERRE Sage expressed his “frustration” after Crystal Palace fought back to level against Ipswich Town with ten men only to lose their Premier League contest at Selhurst Park in the last minute.
Anan Khalaili opened the scoring with a deflected effort in the fourteenth minute before Leif Davis crossed for Emersonn, to head past Walter Benitez nine minutes later.
Then came the game’s pivotal moment when Eagles centre-back Axel Disasi caught Jack Clarke high on the shin and was sent off eleven minutes before the break.
Sage brought on defender Takehiro Tomiyasu for attacking midfielder Yeremy Pino to play a 3-5-1 formation before Emersonn set up Davis to put Gary O’Neil’s side 2-1 up at half-time.
The ten men rallied and Jorgen Strand Larsen levelled fifteen minutes from time.
But Palace were beaten for the third time in four league games this season when Zian Flemming scored a last-minute winner.
“We are really frustrated because of the context of the game,” Sage said.
“We conceded with their first opportunity and the red card meant I had to re-organise the team in a 3-5-1. At the end of the game we came back into it by playing together.
“In the second half we came back with more possession. We created chances and had the ball, and we got back to 2-2.
“We had the opportunity for the 3-2 but we missed it. And then at the end it’s really hard to concede in this manner.
“I’m frustrated for the players, because they gave a lot on the pitch.”
Palace have conceded eleven goals in four league games, the most in the division.
Sage added: “It’s too many goals conceded and I’m aware of that. Today we conceded less chances, but the opponent was very efficient.
“But we saw the same goal three times, a cross and then not winning the ball in our box.
“In the defensive unit I think we have made progress. But we have conceded too many crosses and are not winning the ball in the box, this is a new problem.
“It’s clear we have to be more efficient in that box.”
Sage had praise for Strand Larsen, who scored two goals in the EFL Cup third-round win against Middlesbrough last week.
“He gave a lot to the team by defending and being positive,” Sage said. “He gave a lot to the team and I want to congratulate him for that. But I think he’s really frustrated by the result too.”
Sage hopes the have first-choice goalkeeper back to face Nottingham Forest after the International break.
Meanwhile, Quinten Timber saw the positives despite the defeat, highlighting the team’s character in the second half.
He said: “It was a game that had everything. I think we started good. In the first half we got the goal, then we had the red card and the 1-1 [goal].
“Those two things were out of the blue. With the red card, it was hard, and I think our aim was to keep the 1-1 until half-time. And then they scored which made it even harder.
“I do think in the second half we showed character. It was a hard game, but when they made it 3-2 that was painful.
“We can look back and be proud, but it’s painful because we have no points.
“The manager said we showed character and he knows it’s not easy with ten men.
“But this is football, sometimes you play with ten men. It’s the first time I’ve experienced this [playing ten men] with this team.
“So in the beginning it was a bit about what do we do?
“We created some chances and to be honest I think I should have scored, so I feel bad right now because I wanted to help the team.
“But we have to look forward to the next game. We’ll keep going and we’ll keep working.”
