Pierre Sage feels 'shame' as Brighton thrash Crystal Palace 5-0
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage said he felt "shame" after Brighton beat his side 5-0 in the league derby.
Palace conceded three goals in the opening 10 minutes and never recovered. It was their heaviest defeat by Brighton since January 1956, according to BBC Sport.
The damage came early and it came fast. Brighton struck first, then Diego Gomez scored from the halfway line to make it 2-0 when the hosts were already leading 1-0, as reported in BBC Sport's live coverage. Three more goals followed to complete the rout.
The fixture is known as the M23 derby, the name given to the rivalry between Brighton and Palace. Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton were ruthless in it, as noted by Sky Sports. Gomez's long-range strike was the moment that lit up the afternoon.
Sage made no attempt to hide. He said the defeat was his fault as coach, pointing to motivation and preparation. He apologised to the Palace fans and admitted the team was not at the expected level.
"When you play this kind of game you have to show another face," he said.
Then came the question about his future. Asked if he will get time to turn Palace's poor form around, Sage replied: "I don't know."
What makes this sting for Palace is the recent history. Sage was appointed in the summer, succeeding Oliver Glasner. Under Glasner, Palace lifted the FA Cup for the first time in 2025 and then won the Conference League, Europe's third-tier club competition, in May. Before joining Palace, Sage had guided Lens to the French Cup and second place in Ligue 1, France's top division, last season.
The start to this season has been difficult. At the time of the report, Palace were 14th in the Premier League with two wins from seven games. Their 17 goals conceded were the most in the division.
Europe has been mixed. Palace had one win and one loss from their two Europa League matches, the continent's second-tier competition, after the Brighton defeat.
There is no pause for breath. Palace were scheduled to play away to Besiktas on Thursday before hosting Newcastle on Sunday. Sage will need a response, and quickly.
