Oliver Glasner admitted missed chances cost Crystal Palace after they slipped to a 2-1 Conference League defeat in Strasbourg.
Tyrick Mitchell’s first-half goal had put the Eagles on course for a third win from four European matches.
But they were pegged back by Chelsea-bound striker Emanuel Emegha and then sent packing by a first senior goal from teenager Samir El Mourabet.
Crucially, Palace hit the woodwork twice with open goals to aim at after eccentric Strasbourg goalkeeper Mike Penders, on loan from Chelsea, went walkabout.
Ismaila Sarr’s 30-yard shy at an empty net hit the foot of a post and Adam Wharton’s half volley crashed back of the crossbar.
Eagles boss Glasner told TNT Sport: “It’s easy, when you have twice the empty goal in front of you and you miss the goal twice hitting the post.
“Could be, should be 3-1 up and then we have a big chance and in the next situation you are 2-1 down.
“We’ve had this too often, to be honest, this season that we didn’t decide the game when we could decide it.
“Strasbourg, they are very good, they have very quick players, we knew it. You can concede the equaliser but then we have the next empty net goal we are missing and then we have the next big chance.
“Then you lose a game and I think that’s why we deserved to lose today.”
Palace are down in 18th place in the 36-team league with six points after two wins and two defeats.
Mitchell struck 10 minutes before half-time, the overlapping full-back firing across goal and inside the far post after he was teed up by Jean-Philippe Mateta.
“It’s something that I’ve been trying to work on, something that I think this season got a bit better, so I’m happy that I contributed but unfortunately we didn’t take away three points,” Mitchell
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