Pierre Sage Hails Palace Carabao Cup Win at Selhurst Park 2026

Key Points

• Result: Crystal Palace overcame Championship side Middlesbrough with a scoreline of 3-0 at Selhurst Park to move to the next stage of the Carabao Cup.
• Score Sheet: Jorgen Strand Larsen netted twice through two headers for each half while Daichi Kamada completed the scoreline with the third goal.
• Slow Start: The game started very poorly for Crystal Palace as their opponent Middlesbrough dominated the first half with some scoring opportunities.
• Tactic Change: Manager Pierre Sage was impressed with the defensive weaknesses his team showed during the first half but appreciated their improvement after half time.
• Selection Problem: Jorgen Strand Larsen’s goal means he is competing against Eddie Nketiah to make his starting eleven in their next Premier League match against Ipswich Town.
• Opinion: The manager of Middlesbrough, Kim Hellberg, admired his team’s performance for the first 60 minutes of the match.

SELHURST PARK (South London News) September 9, 2026 – Pierre Sage lauded the collective resilience and clinical response of his Crystal Palace side as they overcame a sluggish opening spell to defeat Middlesbrough 3-0 in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Selhurst Park. Despite being outplayed for long periods of the first hour by their Championship opponents, two headers from striker Jorgen Strand Larsen and an audacious finish by Japanese midfielder Daichi Kamada ensured Palace’s progression into the fourth round of the competition.

How did Pierre Sage analyze Crystal Palace’s tactical turnaround against Middlesbrough?

The Eagles entered the cup fixture seeking momentum, but they found themselves under heavy early pressure from a composed Middlesbrough side. As reported by the PA News Agency, Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage admitted that his team was second-best during the opening exchanges, relying on clinical finishing against the run of play to alter the trajectory of the match.

Sage reflected on the team’s slow start and how the opening goal transformed the dynamic of the contest. As reported by the PA News Agency, Sage stated that

“We didn’t play well at the beginning of the game and we started to play when we scored the first goal. It was a good collective action.”

The French coach elaborated on the technical and positional problems his side faced in the first period, particularly when defending against Middlesbrough’s fluid central movement. As reported by the PA News Agency, Sage stated that

“We controlled the ball at this moment. At the end, we scored. It’s a good sign. During the first half, I was not very happy with our way of defending. We struggled when they played between our lines, but we corrected this kind of thing during half-time.”

Sage further acknowledged that despite losing control of possession, the second-half adjustments allowed Crystal Palace to manage the game far more effectively. As reported by the PA News Agency, Sage stated that

“It was better in the second half and we were able to score. We didn’t have possession, but they’re a good team. I want to congratulate them, they played well.”

What selection dilemmas does Jorgen Strand Larsen create for Pierre Sage ahead of Ipswich Town?

Jorgen Strand Larsen’s multi-goal display provided a major highlight for the home support at Selhurst Park. The Norwegian forward took full advantage of his starting spot, nodding home in both halves to deflate Middlesbrough’s hopes of an upset. His performance has created a competitive selection conundrum ahead of Crystal Palace’s upcoming Premier League meeting with Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Addressing the selection battle between Strand Larsen and rival striker Eddie Nketiah, Sage expressed satisfaction with the high level of competition within his frontline squad. As reported by the PA News Agency, Sage stated that

“It’s always a good problem when a player performs like this. It’s a good thing for the others because they don’t have to give up and they have to give their best too.”

However, Sage stressed that player rotation and physical management remain critical factors due to the tight scheduling of fixtures. As reported by the PA News Agency, Sage stated that

“I have to manage his freshness because he played 45 minutes against Fulham, 65 minutes now and we play on Saturday. He will be able to start, but we will see what happens because Eddie Nketiah will be able to train maybe tomorrow or the day after.”

How did Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg evaluate his team’s performance at Selhurst Park?

Despite the 3-0 scoreline, Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg took heart from his side’s tactical bravery and ability to dominate control away at a top-flight venue. Boro dictated play for the first hour and carved out several promising openings, only to be punished by Crystal Palace’s efficiency inside the penalty area.

Hellberg reflected on the contrast between Middlesbrough’s structural play and their execution in crucial areas. As reported by the PA News Agency, Hellberg stated that

“It’s always tough when you lose a game 3-0 when it’s about scoring goals. But if you look at the performance, that was quite an impressive 60 minutes away from home against a Premier League side.”

The visiting manager pointed out that his squad generated high-quality positions without possessing the final-third edge of their Premier League hosts. As reported by the PA News Agency, Hellberg stated that

“We got into a lot of good positions on the pitch, more than them, but their quality around those areas and what they did there was nice. There are very few teams that go to the Premier League sides and take control of the game, which I think we did.”

Hellberg concluded by praising his players’ commitment to their philosophy and overall intensity against top-flight opposition. As reported by the PA News Agency, Hellberg stated that

“We tried to play our best football and we did that very well. We were very good in long spells and matched the Premier League side with intensity and how we pressed, bravery on the ball and played through them a lot of times. But in those moments, we weren’t good enough to create more out of it, even if we had some good chances to score.”

Background of the particular development

The Carabao Cup tie at Selhurst Park arrived at a crucial period for Crystal Palace as they navigate early-season domestic cup commitments alongside their Premier League campaign. Under Pierre Sage, the Eagles have focused on building tactical adaptability and depth across all positions. Incorporating new attacking arrivals like Jorgen Strand Larsen alongside players returning to full training like Eddie Nketiah reflects Palace’s strategy to maintain competitiveness across multiple competitions.

Middlesbrough, managed by Swedish coach Kim Hellberg, entered the fixture looking to benchmark their progress against top-flight opposition. Boro have adopted an assertive possession-based style in the Championship, aiming for promotion back to the Premier League. The meeting at Selhurst Park served as a measuring stick for Hellberg’s tactics against an established Premier League side, highlighting both their positional fluidness and the clinical gap that exists in front of goal at the highest level.

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Impact on Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough Audiences

For Crystal Palace supporters and stakeholders, this result provides vital momentum and validates the squad’s tactical flexibility under Pierre Sage. The performance of Jorgen Strand Larsen creates healthy squad depth and healthy pressure on Eddie Nketiah, giving Sage options for the upcoming Premier League fixture against Ipswich Town and future cup rounds. The ability to secure a comfortable 3-0 victory while below peak performance demonstrates high efficiency, which will be essential for Palace as they aim for a stable top-half finish and a deep domestic cup run.

For Middlesbrough supporters, the 3-0 defeat carries positive underlying indicators despite the scoreline. Hellberg’s side demonstrated that their style of play can command possession and create chances against Premier League opposition for sustained periods. If Middlesbrough can translate that bravery, high pressing, and positional structure into their Championship fixtures while sharpening their execution in the final third, they are well-positioned to remain strong contenders for promotion to the Premier League.