Oliver Glasner cut a furious figure after Crystal Palace were thrashed 4-1 by Leeds United at Elland Road, angrily pointing the finger at one decisive area he believes completely warped the contest.
The Palace boss was left seething after watching his side concede four goals from set-pieces, a pattern he insists robbed the match of any balance and allowed Leeds to physically bully the Eagles rather than outplay them in open football.
Leeds twice struck from long throws, added a stunning direct free-kick and capitalised on a recycled corner, leaving Glasner visibly incensed at what he saw as a repeat failure to cope with dead-ball situations — something he feels has now crossed from weakness into outright punishment.
Palace have now conceded 11 of their 19 league goals this season from set-pieces, and Glasner made it clear that Leeds’ entire game plan revolved around exploiting that flaw.
“We were bullied from set plays,” said Glasner. “Every single set play was dangerous. I can’t remember one big chance from open play.
“We could have conceded two or three more from set play goals. Conceding four (of them) is embarrassing.
“It’s the fourth game in the last few weeks we’ve lost because of set plays. We conceded two against Manchester United, (one) at Strasbourg and at Arsenal.
“It looks like we’re not sharp enough. We have to show a different set-up or mindset. If you defend set plays like today you have no chance to get a point in the PL.”
Glasner’s comments suggested he felt Leeds did not dominate Palace through superior football, but rather by relentlessly targeting physical mismatches and second balls, an approach that repeatedly overwhelmed his side.
The Austrian coach also admitted Palace failed badly in the basic duels that allow teams to survive under pressure, further feeding his belief that Leeds won the match through brute force rather than craft.
“That’s why in the end we lost and conceded all the goals. In our attack we struggled winning duels, losing so many balls.
“Not creating enough situations and if the opposition plays man to man you have to win your duel. Uche did it at the end and we got a penalty.
“Sometimes you can reduce to the basics and in those we were by far not good enough today.”
While Glasner accepted Palace’s collective failure, his tone made it clear he believes the match was decided long before quality or tactics could take hold — with Leeds exploiting set-pieces so ruthlessly that the contest never became a fair footballing battle.
The defeat leaves Palace under growing pressure, with fans increasingly frustrated at a weakness opponents now appear desperate to target week after week.