While no-one doubted that following in Oliver Glasner's footsteps as Crystal Palace manager would be a difficult task, Pierre Sage now finds his position under close scrutiny.

A string of poor results - most recently Sunday's 5-0 drubbing by Brighton - makes this week a crucial one in determining his future.

Sage has won just two of his opening seven Premier League games in charge, while the 17 goals they have conceded is the most in the league.

But there is a degree of sympathy from some behind the scenes at Selhurst Park that the Frenchman has been dealt a difficult hand.

Injuries have not been kind, while the absence of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr - due to a mixture of fitness and personal issues, related to both players' desire to leave the club - has not helped the start of his reign.

Co-owner and chairman Steve Parish is not one to act on impulse. He resisted the temptation to act when Glasner publicly criticised the club's board for "abandoning" the team after the decision to sell Marc Guehi to Manchester City in January.

Glasner saw out his contract and added the Europa Conference League title to the FA Cup won the season before.

Not that Sage is out of the woods. With crucial games against Besiktas and Newcastle on the horizon, further poor results will leave Parish with a decision to make.

Some figures close to Palace believe the writing is already on the wall and, when the right replacement is in place, his short tenure will come to an end.