A hat-trick from Matheus Franca helped Crystal Palace record a 5-1 win over Ian Holloway’s Swindon Town as Pierre Sage managed his first game in charge of the Eagles.
The Frenchman’s first XI saw Walter Benitez start in between the sticks due to the fact Dean Henderson is still away with England, before Remi Matthews played the second half.
Thoughts on the win over Swindon? 🤔
Joel Drakes-Thomas was absolutely fantastic ⭐️
There were doubts over whether Benitez would play, after a report emerged from Nice-Matin claiming that the Argentine is willing to terminate his contract to seal a return to OGC Nice this summer.
While that could still happen, Sage avoided a repeat of the 2023 incident Roy Hodgson experienced with Vicente Guaita in seeing the South American agree to play.
Talk of Walter Benitez agitating for exit weakens as Argentine starts against Swindon
If the 33-year-old was as desperate to return to OGC Nice as Nice-Matin believe, then he surely would have wanted to avoid playing against Swindon and potentially suffer an injury which scuppered a deal.
The rumours involving Benitez have therefore become diluted by his appearance against the League Two side.
It evokes memories of when Vicente Guaita became upset after losing his spot to Sam Johnstone and refused to partake in pre-season friendlies during the summer of 2023.
As quoted by the Guardian at the time, Hodgson said: “He [Sam Johnstone] is the only choice at the moment because Guaita is disenchanted with the club and has said he would like to move on. He’s refused to play in our games so far.
“A complication is that he has a year’s contract. It’s up to the club to decide, not him. He’s made it clear to everybody he doesn’t want to be here and compete with Sam Johnstone. So Sam Johnstone is number one and Remi Matthews is number two.”
Guaita eventually got what he wanted as he sealed a move to Celta Vigo in September 2023.
Benitez still has two years remaining on his £35,000-a-week contract, so he would be sacrificing millions of pounds in wages if he did rip up his deal to sign for OGC Nice now.
However, as Crystal Palace explore a move for Dominik Livakovic – who Fenerbahce are ready to sell – it does at least sound like the Eagles are ready to react if Benitez leaves.
What are YOUR thoughts on the new home kit? 🤔
I would prefer the sash not to have white gaps, but still quite happy with it 😍
