Crystal Palace edge past Brighton in enthralling affair at Selhurst Park
Every point counts at this stage of the season, whether you’re chasing a European finish or scrapping for safety. Crystal Palace welcomed Brighton today having likely witnessed Southampton’s 3-2 loss to Chelsea and will have breathed a sigh of relief as Saints threw away a two-goal lead to succumb to defeat. That wouldn’t have deterred either side though as they battle not only for a top-flight finish, but the bragging rights too.
After dominating early on, it was the home side who drew first blood. Luka Milivojevic played a corner short for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who returned the ball to the midfielder. Brighton were slow to get out to the Serb, who maximised the ample space afforded to him to carry the ball towards the Seagulls goal before unleashing a low drive across the six-yard box. Mat Ryan did well to get down to deny Milivojevic’s effort, but the ball trickled across the line for a simple Wilfried Zaha finish.
James Tomkins doubled the home side’s advantage on the 15-minute mark. Ryan did well to turn a dipping Andros Townsend volley away for an eventual corner. A goalmouth scramble ensued and the ball eventually found its way to the centre-back, whose effort trickled over the line. The deficit was cut in half four minutes later through former Palace striker Glenn Murray. Lewis Dunk shook off Mamadou Sakho to head a Pascal Groß corner goal bound, which was finished off by Murray a yard, if that, from goal.
Palace restored their two-goal lead midway through the first half as Zaha scored his second and the Eagles’ third. Brighton thought they’d done enough to repel another Palace attack, but left Milivojevic unmarked as he picked up possession 40-yards from goal. He swung in a sumptuous ball for Zaha to head past Ryan from close range as Roy Hodgson’s side continued to exert their dominance over their rivals.
When it seemed Palace were out of sight, though, Brighton fought back, this time through Jose Izquierdo. The winger made his move down the right flank to latch onto a Jurgen Locadia pass. Izquierdo then dodged a Joel Ward tackle and bent a curling effort past Wayne Hennessey into the far corner. Milivojevic came close to reopening the two-goal gulf moments before the interval, yet was denied by a smart Ryan stop as Brighton kept themselves in the game.
Following a barnstorming opening 45 minutes, the second half started slowly by comparison with the first real chance of the game following the restart coming on the hour mark as Beram Kayal picked out Murray with an excellent cross, only for the Seagulls forward to drag his effort just wide as Brighton huffed and puffed for the equaliser.
It was then Dale Stephens' turn to test Wayne Hennessey, with the Brighton midfielder seeing his 20-yard effort turned behind for a corner as Brighton continued to press for the goal to draw them level. However, while they ended the match strongly, the away side were unable to secure the crucial third goal and with Huddersfield also winning, Brighton need to be wary they can be caught and dragged back into the relegation battle.
Not only did Palace open up a six-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone, there was another man of the match display from Zaha, who again reinforced the idea that he is the best player currently plying his trade outside of the Premier League's top-6. Even if Palace avoid the drop, there will be plenty of interest in the Ivory Coast international, whose brace took him to seven Premier League goals for the campaign.
