‘It’s embarrassing’ - Eagles coach ashamed after Uche, teammates, concede four goals from set pieces

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner held nothing back after watching his side capitalised repeatedly from dead-ball situations during their crushing 4-1 loss to Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday.

Conceding one goal from a set piece is unfortunate, two raises eyebrows, but four? That represents a full-blown defensive crisis. 

The Austrian tactician's post-match assessment was brutal and unflinching. He described his team's defending as embarrassing after Leeds exploited the same weakness throughout the match.

Former Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored twice and Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach also found the net—all from set-piece scenarios. Nigerian midfielder Christantus Uche, praised recently and a second half substitute, and his Palace teammates appeared powerless to stop the onslaught.

Palace's defensive frailties were exposed from the first half when two long throws from Ampadu created both of Calvert-Lewin's goals before the interval. 

The Wales international then added his own goal after the break following a corner, before Stach's stunning free-kick in the 101st minute completed the rout. Uche won a late penalty converted by Justin Devenny, but it proved mere consolation.

The defeat drops Palace to eighth position in the Premier League standings, while Leeds climbed to 16th and moved six points clear of the relegation zone. 

Glasner made 11 changes following their UEFA Conference League commitment 48 hours earlier, but refused to use fatigue as justification for the capitulation.

Glasner pointed to a disturbing pattern emerging in recent weeks. This marked the fourth consecutive match where Palace surrendered crucial points due to set-piece vulnerability, raising serious questions about training ground preparation and tactical awareness. 

The Austrian manager also accepted full responsibility, suggesting he may have over-complicated matters in the build-up and promised to find answers and communicate them to his squad. 

"We couldn't match their physicality today. Conceding four set-play goals is embarrassing. They had almost no chance from open play, but every set play was dangerous."

"It is the fourth game in the last week that we are losing because we are conceding goals from set plays. We were not good enough... We fully deserved to lose."

"No, fatigue is no excuse. I think we had the wrong mindset today. Maybe I spoke too much about tactics... and not enough about the basics, because we lost every second ball. You have to do the basics first, then you can talk about tactics."

"Today everybody should be disappointed and think about what they can do better. I always start with myself. I will find the right answer and let the players know tomorrow."

With set-piece defending requiring concentration, organisation, and physical dominance, qualities conspicuously absent at Elland Road, the Eagles must return to basics before their defensive reputation suffers further damage.