'Result is not what we wanted' - games pile up for Palace

"As if two games in 48 hours were not enough, Crystal Palace now face an additional two-legged play-off to keep their European dream alive. Thursday's frustrating 2-2 draw with Finnish champions KuPS left Palace outside the automatic last-16 places in the Conference League, Europe's third-tier competition. The Eagles, who are making their debut in major European competition, will have to play additional matches on 19 February and 26 February for the right to play in the knockout stage after finishing 10th in the table."

"Boss Oliver Glasner named an under-strength team packed with fringe and academy players because of the tight turnaround. No sooner had the referee blown the final whistle at Selhurst Park, Glasner's attention immediately switched to Saturday's Premier League match at Leeds United. Two first-team matches in 48 hours will be followed by a Carabao Cup quarter-final at Arsenal next Tuesday - and now Palace, who were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League over ownership rules, face two additional European games in the new year."

""With the demotion, we got the play-offs in August and with this result we get the play-offs in February," said Glasner after Thursday's match. "The result is not what we wanted. It's a game we could easily have won. "The only thing I don't like is that Leeds now know our starting line-up because there are only 11 players who didn't start - and nobody will start both games.""

Crystal Palace drew 2-2 with Finnish champions KuPS and finished 10th in their Conference League group, meaning extra two-legged play-offs on 19 and 26 February to reach the knockout stage. Manager Oliver Glasner named a largely fringe and academy side because of severe fixture congestion, with two first-team matches in 48 hours followed by a Carabao Cup quarter-final at Arsenal. Palace were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League over ownership rules, which already added play-offs in August. The club could play up to 68 matches this season and begin FA Cup defence at Macclesfield on 10 January.

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