Oliver Glasner was left in shock after Crystal Palace, the FA Cup holders, suffered a humiliating defeat to non-league Macclesfield, becoming the first holders to lose to a side outside the Football League since 1909. “Honestly, I have no explanation for what I have seen today,” said the manager after the 2-1 loss on Macclesfield’s artificial pitch.
Just 238 days after Palace’s first major trophy triumph at Wembley, captain Marc Guéhi faced furious fans after the final whistle, with assistant Paddy McCarthy joining him in discussions. Macclesfield, whose players include a property developer and a lawyer, took the lead through a Paul Dawson header from a free-kick – the 10th set-piece goal Palace have conceded in their last 12 goals against.
The defeat extends Palace’s winless run to nine games in all competitions. Injuries to key players like Daniel Muñoz and Daichi Kamada, along with fatigue from a debut European campaign, have exposed a squad ill-prepared for the demands. Glasner’s future remains uncertain after he declined a new contract, and the club failed to reinvest the £67.5m from Eberechi Eze’s sale until late in the window.
Palace’s system relies heavily on wing-backs, but cover for Muñoz has been inadequate. Borna Sosa, a cut-price signing from Ajax, has struggled, while striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was left at home due to pitch concerns, a decision that backfired. The club is pursuing new signings, including Genk’s Zakaria El Ouahdi, but work on a £150m stadium stand adds financial pressure.
Ironically, the last non-league side to knock out FA Cup holders was a Palace team from the Southern League in 1909, who then lost 9-0 to Burnley. As Palace ponder their future, the defeat has damaged Glasner’s reputation, with potential suitors unlikely to be impressed.
