Crystal Palace: Oliver Glasner identifies key problem as Eagles stumble in Europe | OneFootball

South Londoners suffered a second defeat on the continent

Oliver Glasner has admitted that Crystal Palace’s struggles in front of goal have become a theme of their season as Strasbourg came from behind to secure a 2-1 win in the Conference League.

“Pretty easy [to see where we lost the game] when you twice have the empty goal in front of you,” Glasner said post-match.

“You miss the goal twice, hitting the post.

“It could be, should be three one up and then we have the big chance one against the ‘keeper and in the next situation you are one [goal] down.

“We had this too often to be honest this season that we didn't decide the game when we could decide it.”

The Eagles weathered an early onslaught of pressure from their French hosts to take a 35th-minute lead through Tyrick Mitchell and should quickly have doubled their advantage when Ismaila Sarr hit the inside of the post from range after rounding Strasbourg goalkeeper Mike Penders.

The Ligue 1 outfit hit back after the break with Chelsea-bound striker Emanuel Emegha tapping home the equaliser, but again Palace should have scored as a result of more uncertain goalkeeping from Penders.

Instead, Wharton hit the crossbar with the goal gaping, and in a cruel twist of fate, Strasbourg would find the winning goal as Samir El Mourabet finished on the rebound after Julio Enciso’s free-kick came back off the post.

Defeat leaves Palace 18th in the Conference League table, having lost two of their opening four league phase games.

Automatic qualification is not in their hands heading into their final two games against Shelbourne and KuPS, and Glasner acknowledged that his side could not just rely on clean sheets to secure their progress to the knockout stages.

“It was the second defeat, missing many chances. It was against [AEK] Larnaca, missing too many chances,” the Austrian continued.

“Again, it's the story [of our season]. We need more players who show up in scoring goals, that's what we know. But on the other hand, nobody does it on purpose, but at the moment it just happens too often.

“You can't always rely to keep the clean sheet because the opposition is also doing well, and it would give us a little bit more time to relax in a game. If you score the second and third, nothing will cost you.

“The pressing worked really great in these situations, but then you have to get the reward for these situations, and this is what we are missing too often.”