Crystal Palace’s 2023-24 pre-season campaign starts with defeat at National League side Barnet

Crystal Palace started their 2023-24 pre-season campaign with defeat at National League side Barnet.

Former AFC Wimbledon winger Courtney Senior scored the only goal of the game.

Palace went close in the first half, with both Killian Phillips and Scott Banks sending shots wide of Laurie Walker’s goal.

Barnet wanted a penalty on the half-hour mark when Sam Barratt went down inside the penalty area. However, the referee waved play on.

Reece Hall-Johnson then went close, dragging a shot along Matthews’ goal.

Luke Plange forced a save from the Barnet keeper early on in the second half after he brought the ball down on the edge of the box and shot with his right foot.

Joe Whitworth made a smart stop midway through the second half to deny a Barnet trialist after he broke beyond the Palace defence.

Rak-Sakyi was Palace’s biggest threat during the game. He nearly gave Palace the lead in the final 10 minutes after he danced through the Barnet defence and hit a shot which rebounded past Walker’s goal.

Courtney Senior eventually gave Barnet the lead late on when he picked the ball up on the edge of the box and curled a stunning shot beyond Whitworth.

The Eagles take on Brondby on Saturday in their next pre-season test.

First-half line-up: Remi Matthews, Nathaniel Clyne, Jake O’Brien, Kaden Rodney, Naourirou Ahamada, Jairo Riedewald, Scott Banks, Malcomb Ebiowei, Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Second-half: Joe Whitworth, Joel Ward, Kofi Balmer, Sean Grehan, Tyrick Mitchell, Will Hughes, Jack Wells-Morrison, David Ozoh, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Odsonne Edouard, Luke Plange.