Crystal Palace boss Sage admits his job is already at risk after 5-0 Brighton rout

Pierre Sage has admitted his position at Crystal Palace is already uncertain after only seven Premier League games, with the Frenchman unable to guarantee his own future following a 5-0 thrashing by Brighton that sent the Eagles into the bottom half of the table.

Sage, 47, was appointed at Selhurst Park in the summer after Oliver Glasner departed at the end of his contract. He signed a three-year deal, but Palace have won just two of their opening seven league fixtures, leaving them 14th and two points clear of the relegation zone.

Asked after the Brighton defeat whether he would be given time to turn results around, Sage gave a candid and unsettling answer. “I don’t know,” he said. “We are not at the level we expected, and I’m really sorry for that. I just want to apologise to the fans because it’s not normal to show this face.”

Fans began leaving the Amex Stadium before the final whistle, but Sage insisted he would not walk away from the challenge. “I will always give my best,” he said. “When we lose I’m really frustrated but I always take the lesson and try to change things — but it’s the same when I win because I know we can improve. I don’t want to accept the level of the moment if we are able to do better.”

The Palace manager also accepted personal responsibility for the performance. “I am responsible for this team and when the team play as they did today it’s not normal, it’s my fault,” he said. “I understand the fans and cannot blame them.”

In stark contrast, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler saw his side climb to third in the Premier League table with the emphatic victory. The German coach urged his players to savour the moment rather than focus on the standings. “They shouldn’t look at the table,” Hurzeler said. “They should enjoy the night today without a mobile phone, enjoy a beer or something else and enjoy wearing the Seagulls’ colours.”

Sage’s previous managerial experience came at Lyon, where he earned widespread praise for keeping the club in Ligue 1 against the odds, and at Lens. Whether he will be afforded the same patience at Selhurst Park now appears to be an open question.