Brighton 4 Crystal Palace 1
Roberto De Zerbi’s side welcomed Crystal Palace to the south coast, looking to end a run of poor form that has seen them win only one of their last seven games. The Italian manager was suffering from that second season syndrome that plagues most scriptwriters.
Crystal Palace were playing all in black, which proved to be quite the metaphor for their season so far. It was further underpinned when Lewis Dunk headed home Pascal Gross’ corner to give The Seagulls the lead from a completely free header.
The visitors had their first chance of the game when they dispossessed Brighton in midfield. With limited options either side of him, Schlupp decided to go for goal from outside the box. Verbruggen got down into the corner to make a fairly routine save.
Gross was putting some fine deliveries into the box, this time picking out Buonanotte but he planted his header straight into the hands of Henderson. Either side of the Palace keeper and it would have been a certain goal for De Zerbi’s side.
Credit: @OfficialBHAFC
Lamptey was causing all sorts of problems for the visitors down the left flank and on this occasion his deep cross was met by the head of Hinshelwood. His looping effort went into the far corner with no chance of the keeper getting to it.
Pascal Gross was showing just how important he is to this Brighton team. When he is on song, The Seagulls tend to fire on all cylinders. He skipped past the Palace challenges before laying the ball off for Buonanotte to slot the ball into the far corner.
At 76-years-old, many people suffer with a poor memory. For Roy Hodgson’s sake, this could be a good thing as it was turning into a real horror show at the Amex Stadium. The hosts were carving them open every time they came forward.
Van Hecke lost the ball in his own half and it was Schlupp again who broke towards goal. His shot, from a tight angle, was well saved by Verbruggen to save his defender’s blushes. Palace were looking a little blunt in the final third.
Hodgson gambled on Michael Olise’s fitness as he brought him off the bench in the interval. Brighton continued to press and Gross’ shot from distance was blocked, with the ball breaking to Gilmour. He followed suit but it was deflected behind for a corner.
Crystal Palace cleared the ball, giving them a chance for a quick counter. Then the moment came that every fan of The Eagles’ was dreading. Olise started to sprint towards the loose ball and immediately pulled up, signally to the bench he needed to come off. He may be looking at some time out now.
Credit: @OfficialBHAFC
As was seen in midweek, when Palace have both Eze and Olise on the pitch, they look a completely different team. At Hodgson’s age, leaving the house without going to the toilet first is a normal gamble, but this one could see their prized asset sidelined for some time.
The hosts were the architect of all of their own problems in this game. They lost the ball once again and Andersen swung a cross into the box which was headed home by Mateta. With just under twenty minutes remaining, the travelling fans dreamt of a memorable comeback.
It was not to be though as Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck played a sublime one-two before the Brighton striker drilled the ball into bottom corner to make this a convincing victory for Roberto De Zerbi’s side. No more than they deserved as they took all three points.
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