Enzo Le Fee has expressed his gratitude to Sunderland fans for their support after he missed a penalty in their last Premier League match against Brentford.
The Black Cats had a chance to level the score when they were 1-0 down against the Bees, but Le Fee’s Panenka penalty was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher and Brentford went on to win 3-0.
However, the Frenchman made amends for his mistake last weekend by scoring a volley against Everton in the FA Cup and also holding his nerve in a penalty shoot-out as Sunderland advanced on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Le Fee was happy to bounce back from his miss as the Black Cats now prepare to host Crystal Palace in the competition this week.
“That’s football,” said Le Fee. “Sometimes things don’t go your way, but you can’t hide. If you don’t try, you won’t succeed.”
“Missing a penalty hurts, but failures are lessons and you have to keep believing in them.
“I have felt a lot of support from the fans and I really appreciate that. The messages mean a lot and give you confidence. I am grateful to everyone who has stood behind me.”
Gym time pic.twitter.com/P7aLkeygnc
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 14, 2026
Palace, meanwhile, saw their FA Cup title defense end at the first hurdle after being knocked out by National League North side Macclesfield on Saturday.
Indeed, Macclesfield became the first non-league team to eliminate the FA Cup holders since Palace eliminated Wolves in the first round of the 1908–09 tournament.
After their humbling defeat, Eagles boss Oliver Glasner is determined to see his side respond at the Stadium of Light.
“Everyone is disappointed. Players are frustrated. We didn’t show up. We’re sorry for that. I hope you can understand,” Glasner said as he addressed the fans.
“You, the fans and all of us, are very disappointed.
“We’ll make a few changes and start again next week. Thank you for your support.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sunderland – Robin Roefs
Two of the top three goalkeepers in the Premier League this season in terms of goals prevented could feature in this match.
Sunderland’s Roefs (5.1 – 21 goals conceded excluding own goals, 26.1 xGoT conceded) and Palace’s Dean Henderson (3.9 – 23 goals conceded, 26.9 xGoT conceded) have both impressed this season.
Crystal Palace – Jean-Philippe Mateta
Mateta has scored eight goals in the Premier League this season. However, only one of those has come in his last eight appearances.
And only David Brooks (-3.41) has underperformed his xG by a greater margin in the league this season than Mateta’s -3.21 (eight goals, 11.21 xG).
MATCH PREDICTION – draw
Sunderland remain unbeaten in their ten Premier League home games this season (W5 D5); In English top flight history, only seven newly promoted teams have enjoyed a longer unbeaten home start to a campaign, most recently Ipswich Town in 1992–93 (11 games).
However, the away side have not lost any of the last eight Premier League meetings between Sunderland and Palace (W5 D3) since the Eagles’ 3-1 win at Selhurst Park in August 2013.
Palace have been without a goal in their last two Premier League games; Since Patrick Vieira’s last four league games, between February and March 2023, the Eagles have not remained in the league without scoring.
After failing to score in just four of their first fourteen Premier League games this season, Sunderland have since failed to score in four of their last seven matches. Since the start of December, the Black Cats have scored the fewest goals (four) and the lowest xG total (6.6) in the division.
Over the past six matchdays in the Premier League, only West Ham (one) have earned fewer points than Palace (two – D2 L4); and on the road they have lost their last two games. The Eagles last lost three in a row in February 2024 under Roy Hodgson.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Sunderland – 36.2%
Draw – 26.2%
Crystal Palace – 37.6%
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