Crystal Palace Under-21s saw their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 season come to an end on Saturday afternoon, suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in Premier League 2 at Sutton’s Borough Sports Ground.
Palace dominated large spells and saw Benji Casey’s penalty bounce off both posts before Seb Williams had a second spot-kick saved on the stroke of half-time. Joe Gibbard and the Young Eagles continued to threaten after the break, but Blackburn took the lead shortly after Palace were reduced to 10 men.
Darren Powell’s side pushed for a late equaliser, with Gibbard going close in stoppage time, but Blackburn held on to claim the points.
Fresh from a 2-1 comeback victory over Swindon Town in their EFL Trophy opener, Palace were looking to preserve their unbeaten start to the 26/27 season.
George King returned from injury to captain the side, while Benji Casey replaced in-form striker Adler Nascimento up front, with the Young Eagles also looking ahead to Tuesday’s EFL Trophy trip to Plymouth Argyle.
Joél Drakes-Thomas returned to the squad for the first time since the opening-day draw with Arsenal, taking a place on the bench.
Palace began proceedings on the front foot, with King’s free-kick lifted over Blackburn’s backline almost sending Casey clean through on goal. Moments later, Dean Benamar’s deep cross was kept alive by King, sparking a pinball-like scramble inside the visitors’ area.
Caleb Kporha’s quick feet saw him weave through a crowd of bodies and drive towards goal. A crucial intervention halted his progress, while Euan Danaher then turned his marker brilliantly before going to ground, only for his appeals for a penalty to be waved away.
Palace continued to turn the screw, with a long throw headed back across goal for Taha Majni, whose resulting half-volley flashed narrowly wide of the far post.
By the 20-minute mark, Powell’s side had enjoyed the lion’s share of the territory and possession, probing relentlessly for an opening, but the breakthrough remained elusive.
There were signs midway through the half that the pendulum was beginning to swing towards Blackburn. However, aside from a couple of dangerous crosses flashed across the face of goal, Palace continued to look the more likely side to break the deadlock.
Entering the final third, Casey’s pace in behind continued to cause Blackburn problems, and the forward was rewarded with the opportunity to put Palace ahead from the penalty spot. He sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, but agonisingly saw his effort bounce off both posts and stay out.
The visitors responded with a warning of their own, forcing Harry Lee into a routine save before another effort sailed over the crossbar.
On the stroke of half-time, Casey was brought down again inside the area after the Blackburn 'keeper raced from his line, earning Palace a second penalty. This time Williams took responsibility, but his side-footed effort was brilliantly palmed away by a diving Taylor.
The Young Eagles remained on the front foot as the half drew to a close, with Casey volleying narrowly wide from an inswinging corner.
Benamar then saw a free-kick from the right channel, just outside the area, curl around the wall, only for Taylor to beat it away, while further efforts were blocked before they could trouble the visitors’ goal.
Despite their dominance and two missed penalties, Powell’s side somehow went into the interval level.
Palace began the second half as they had ended the first, immediately threatening the Blackburn goal. A pull-back rolled into the path of the onrushing Gibbard six yards out, only for Williams to clip his teammate’s heel at the crucial moment, with a lack of communication denying the Young Eagles a golden opportunity.
Moments later, Gibbard went close again, striking a fierce effort from just outside the area towards the near post, but Taylor reacted sharply to palm it clear.
The visitors then threatened at the other end, with the Young Eagles having to withstand a couple of dangerous low crosses before Lee stood tall to deny Jayden Segeant in a one-on-one to the left of the area.
It was an end-to-end start to the second half, with barely five minutes on the clock. Casey was then slipped through and found himself clean through on goal, but he lost his footing at the crucial moment, allowing the 'keeper to gather.
With the breakthrough still elusive, Powell turned to his bench on the hour mark, introducing the attacking threat of Nascimento and Drakes-Thomas in place of Casey and Kporha.
Drakes-Thomas made an immediate impact, driving forward before finding Gibbard, who again stung the palms of Taylor from distance. Tyler Whyte followed up from a tight angle, but could only lift his effort over the crossbar.
Midway through the half, fellow substitute Nascimento stood up his marker and unleashed a powerful effort towards goal, only for Taylor to tip it over.
Then, on 70 minutes, the game swung decisively in Blackburn’s favour. Majni was shown a straight red card for a late challenge, much to Powell’s frustration, leaving Palace with 10 men.
The visitors capitalised almost immediately, with an inswinging corner headed back across goal before Harvey Higgins reacted quickest to turn the ball home and give Blackburn the lead.
Palace refused to let the setback halt their pursuit of an equaliser. Gibbard, who had emerged as the Young Eagles’ main attacking threat, won a free-kick on the left which was rolled into the path of King just a few yards from goal, but his first-time effort lacked power and was gathered comfortably.
There was then a brief spell in which the momentum shifted towards Blackburn, but the visitors failed to create any chances of real note.
Palace continued to push for a late leveller, with a Drakes-Thomas cross taking a deflection and teeing up Gibbard for a first-time effort from close range. His strike was blocked, however, as Blackburn continued to hold firm.
Powell then turned to his bench once more, introducing 15-year-old Nat Kalembo for the final couple of minutes. It was the youngster’s second appearance for the U21s, having made his competitive debut in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy victory over Swindon.
Nine minutes of added time were indicated and greeted by loud cheers from the Palace faithful in the stands. Blackburn threatened first, however, with Lee called upon to make a close-range save to keep Palace within touching distance.
Nascimento then tried his luck from range, whipping a set-piece around the wall from 25 yards, but Taylor made a comfortable save.
Blackburn squandered opportunities to put the game beyond doubt in the dying stages as Palace committed bodies forward in search of a late equaliser.
The Young Eagles almost found it when Gibbard latched onto a lofted ball down the left channel and attempted to round the onrushing Taylor, but the Rovers goalkeeper recovered well to dive and push the ball away for a corner.
From the resulting inswinging delivery, pinball ensued inside the Blackburn area, but nobody in white could apply the finishing touch as Palace were denied a late leveller.
The result brought an end to Palace’s unbeaten start to the 2026/27 season, with Powell’s side now turning their attention to Tuesday’s EFL Trophy trip to Plymouth Argyle as they look to return to winning ways.
Palace XI: Lee (GK); Somade, King (Fasida, 76), Majni; Benamar, Danaher (Adams-Collman, 76), Williams, Whyte (Kalembo, 85); Gibbard, Casey (Nascimento, 58), Kporha (Drakes-Thomas, 58)
Subs not used: Hill, Frazer-Williams.
Blackburn Rovers: Taylor, Houghton, Rice (Leatherbarrow, 74), Pitt (Mullarky-Matthews, 63), Mcllroy, Dunn, Sergeant (Mbonzale, 90+3), Ball ©, Higgins, Outattara, Goremusandu (McCoy, 74).
Subs not used: Holt, Wardack.
