‘We deserved to lose’ – Glasner critical of Crystal Palace’s shock FA Cup defeat to non-league Macclesfield | OneFootball

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner says his side “deserved to lose” after being dumped out of the FA Cup by sixth tier side Macclesfield.

Goals in each half from Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts condemned the FA Cup holders to defeat in the Third Round, their first match in the competition since winning it last season.

This was the first meeting between the FA Cup holders and a non-league team since 2004-05, and Palace become the first holders to be knocked out by a non-league side since Wolves in 1908-09.

The Eagles were near to full strength against their sixth tier opponents, and Glasner was very critical with how his side performed.

“We give congratulations to Macclesfield for winning,” Glasner said.

“We had no kind of quality today and I saw no one who could win a dribble. Then conceding set goals and timing in the header.

“If you can’t create clear chances, it is a lack of quality that we have shown today. We deserved to lose.”

Trailing at the break to Dawson’s opener, the Austrian made a triple substitution at half-time with Will Hughes, Tyrick Mitchell and Brennan Johnson entering the fray, but Buckley-Ricketts’ impromptu strike doubled the hosts’ lead 15 minutes in the second half.

Yeremy Pino’s stoppage time freekick pulled one back for Palace, but they exit the competition instantly.

Glasner was left without answers as to why his side struggled so much.

“Quality. From everyone. Honestly, I have no explanation for what I have seen today and we can find excuses but you don’t need tactics and a manager for these games.

“So I think if you just show what you are capable of and show pride then you perform in a different way.”

Defeat for Palace leaves them with just the Premier League and Conference League to focus on for the rest of the campaign.