Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has issued a startlingly frank admission about his team's major defensive flaw, just days before they host Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Glasner's Brutal Honesty After Newcastle Defeat
Following a 2-0 defeat away to Newcastle United, Glasner did not hold back in his assessment. He explicitly stated that his side "can't defend set plays", labelling the recurring issue as "not acceptable". The Austrian boss acknowledged the problem is a primary reason for their recent poor results and vowed to find solutions.
This public revelation provides a clear tactical blueprint for Unai Emery's Aston Villa, who visit Selhurst Park on Wednesday night. Villa, fresh from a 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest, will be aiming to capitalise on this well-documented vulnerability.
A Pattern of Defensive Failures
Palace's struggles from dead-ball situations are not a one-off. The goals conceded at St James' Park followed a familiar pattern. The first, scored by Bruno Guimarães in the 70th minute, came from a recycled free-kick that Palace failed to clear. The second, just eight minutes later, saw Malick Thiaw score after goalkeeper Dean Henderson failed to deal with an in-swinging corner.
This match was merely the latest in a concerning sequence. The Eagles' home defeat to Tottenham was decided by an Archie Gray goal from a corner. They also conceded directly from a corner in their Carabao Cup quarter-final loss at Arsenal.
The most damning evidence came in a 4-1 thrashing by Leeds United, where Palace's defence completely collapsed. In that match alone, they conceded twice from throw-ins and once from a corner, before a late free-kick sealed their fate. Even in the Europa Conference League against KuPS Kuopio, a conceded goal in the 53rd minute originated from another poorly defended corner.
Mounting Pressure Ahead of Villa Visit
The statistics make for grim reading for Palace supporters. The team is now without a win in their last seven matches across all competitions. Their form at Selhurst Park is particularly worrying, having lost three of their last four home games.
Glasner, while critical of the set-piece defending, did praise his players' effort and commitment. "The players always gave maximum effort and that is why everyone is disappointed," he said. "We try things and change things. It is our responsibility. Always look what we can improve to give players solutions."
However, with Aston Villa's attack known for its organisation and threat, the midweek fixture presents a severe test. Villa will be acutely aware that targeting set-plays could be the most direct route to securing a second consecutive Premier League victory and compounding Palace's ongoing crisis.
