Bromley 3-0 Crystal Palace: Pierre Sage hit with early setback as Eagles stunned in pre-season derby | OneFootball

Ravens trump Eagles at sun-soaked Hayes Lane

Crystal Palace’s pre-season campaign stuttered on Saturday as they were subject to a shock 3-0 defeat by Bromley.

The Ravens, managed by ex-Crystal Palace player and goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman, were promoted to League One last season after topping League Two, and seem set for another impressive campaign.

New Eagles boss Pierre Sage named two strong sides to feature in either half, but found his men overrun by their Hayes Lane hosts.

A starting lineup featuring Walter Benitez, Jaydee Canvot, Romain Esse, Will Hughes and Justin Devenny put in a credible enough performance, creating a handful of good chances which required the intervention of the goalkeeper.

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, back from a half-season loan at Stoke City, went through one-on-one but tripped over his own feet at the vital moment and put the ball behind for a goal kick. Matheus Franca also did well to round the keeper but took a touch too wide and the chance went begging.

Derby day: Bromley beat Crystal Palace 3-0 at Hayes Lane

PA

It was goalless at the break as Sage made 11 substitutions, adding Eddie Nketiah, Borna Sosa, Brennan Johnson, Cheick Doucoure and Tyrick Mitchell, among others.

The opener came shortly after the hour mark when Shamal George’s goal kick made it all the way through to summer signing Victor Adeboyejo, previously of Mansfield Town, who did well to lob young shot-stopper Joe Whitworth.

Palace squandered a gilt-edge opportunity to equalise as 17-year-old Joel Drakes-Thomas put Nketiah’s low cross wide from close range.

And their profligacy was soon punished as Adeboyejo got his brace, scoring from the spot after Doucoure brought Ethon Archer down in the box. After Nketiah hit the crossbar amid a goalmouth scramble, Nicke Kabamba then put the cherry on top for the visitors, heading home from the edge of the six-yard box.

It was a frustrating outing for the Eagles, who created plentiful chances but simply could not find the back of the net. The defeat brings them back down to Earth after they trounced Swindon in their pre-season opener.

Speaking at full-time, though, Woodman urged Bromley’s players and fans not to get carried away with the result.

“Sometimes pre-season games can be a little bit stale, but there was a brilliant tempo to the game,” he told the club’s YouTube channel.

“The result is lovely but irrelevant. It really is.

“But there was a lot of positives out there. I hope people can see from that match what we’re gonna be and what we’re about.

“Credit to Palace, they put a really good team out today. We can’t thank them enough. It’s early and we’ve got a lot of work to do still. We can’t get sidetracked by this result.”

“We are all pulling in the right direction,” Adeboyejo added. “Long may it continue.”