Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi confronted the club's furious travelling support moments after his side suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in their history, crashing out of the FA Cup to non-league Macclesfield.
A Historic Upset at Moss Rose
Entering Saturday's third-round tie as the defending FA Cup holders, Palace were expected to comfortably dispatch their opponents from the National League North, the sixth tier of English football. Instead, they were sent packing in a stunning 2-1 defeat that will be remembered as one of the competition's greatest giant-killings.
Paul Dawson put the home side ahead shortly before half-time, sending shockwaves through Moss Rose. The seismic shock was amplified on the hour mark when Isaac Buckley-Ricketts doubled Macclesfield's advantage. A late goal from Yeremy Pino offered Palace a glimmer of hope, but the non-league side held firm to secure a famous victory.
Guehi Bears the Brunt of Fan Fury
As the final whistle confirmed Palace's catastrophic exit, the anger from the away end was palpable. Rather than retreat to the dressing room, captain Marc Guehi walked directly towards the disgruntled supporters. The England defender stood and listened to their complaints, fronting up to the criticism in the immediate aftermath of the debacle.
The result is a staggering fall from grace for the Eagles, who just eight months earlier had won the club's first major trophy when Eberechi Eze's goal beat Manchester City at Wembley. The contrast between that historic high and this new low could not be more stark.
Manager Reactions: Pride and Despair
In the victorious home dressing room, Macclesfield manager John Rooney was in dreamland. "I can't believe it, we never thought we would be in this position," he said. "We were incredible from the first minute. I thought we were deserved winners. I couldn't be any prouder of the lads."
For Palace boss Oliver Glasner, there was only blunt criticism and bewilderment. "We give congratulations to Macclesfield for winning. We had no kind of quality today and I saw no one who could win a dribble," the Austrian admitted. He pinpointed a "lack of quality from everyone" as the reason for the defeat, adding, "Honestly, I have no explanation for what I have seen today."
While Macclesfield can now eagerly await Monday's fourth-round draw, Palace must pick up the pieces and focus on their Premier League clash with Sunderland next weekend. The memory of this FA Cup humiliation, however, will linger far longer.
