It might be the season for giving but, on today of all days, Brighton’s generosity proved to be their undoing.
The afternoon started with a pre-match montage of Brighton’s recent derby day successes over the Eagles, including the most recent encounter between these sides last February.
A 3-1 win for the hosts that will live long in the memories around these parts, but a day those of a Palace persuasion will have done their best to erase the memory of.
That results was symptomatic of the recent history between English football’s least heralded rivals. Palace had failed to win any of their past six league games against Brighton. Of all the sides to have as your ‘bogey team’, their choice could not be any worse.
But the visitors started to turn the record books in their favour this afternoon with an impressive win that extended their run without defeat on the road to four matches.
Brighton might have aspirations of reclaiming a spot in Europe but their shambolic defending for each of Palace’s goals suggests that is wishful thinking.
Ismaila Sarr scored a brace as he helped Crystal Palace to secure a victory against Brighton
Sarr made it 2-0 to Palace in the 33rd minute as he found the net with a header
Trevoh Chalobah opened the scoring for Palace with a goal in the 27th minute
Chalobah netted his second Premier League goal of the season as he put Palace in front
First, Trevoh Chalobah profited from Brighton failing to clear their lines from a corner by poking into the net before Tariq Lamptey got lost under a high ball, allowing Tyrick Mitchell to setup Ismaila Sarr.
And to complete the hat-trick, Lewis Dunk was unable to deal with the electric Sarr, who brushed off the Brighton defender before scoring past Bart Verburggen. Only a late Marc Guehi own goal could take a bit of the shine off of their victory.
It all came after Brighton left back Pervis Estupinan set the tone for the game inside the first 20 seconds, launching into a full-blooded but fair challenge on Daniel Munoz, before setting the hosts on their way with a quick throw to Joao Pedro.
The Brazilian kept the ball glued to his body with two touches before a genius flick over his head set Kaoru Mitoma through on goal, where his volley was blocked by Dean Henderson.
The Palace keeper was involved moments later when he came charging out of his goal to clear a ball forward by Jan Paul van Hecke. Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh, in from the start after his goal against Leicester, nipped in front of Henderson, who dangled a leg dangerously high. Luckily for the former England stopper he made enough contact with the ball, rather than Minteh’s head.
Palace were struggling to find their feet but were given a leg up by Brighton’s defenders and a helping hand from referee Michael Oliver, who inadvertently blocked off Carlos Baleba as the visitors launched a counter-attack.
The first corner Palace won came to nothing but Brighton failed to deal with the resulting delivery from Will Hughes.
Criminally, they allowed it to bounce inside the six-yard box, where Chalobah was alert to scoop the ball into the roof of the net.
Sarr got his second goal of the game in the 82nd minute as Palace got all three points
Brighton reduced the deficit in the closing stages as Palace’s Marc Guehi scored an own goal
The Crystal Palace supporters were delighted as their side managed to overcome Brighton
Cue pandemonium in the away end for those who hadn’t seen their side beat their old foes in their previous six attempts. And it wasn’t long before they were celebrating again, courtesy of another defensive calamity from the hosts.
Lamptey had all the time in the world to deal with Maxence Lacroix’s looping free-kick. But the right back’s radar was out of kilter, so much so that he was caught yards under the ball, allowing Mitchell to control and cross for Sarr.
From being in total control, the hosts were fortunate to make half-time only two goals behind.
First Verbruggen saved well from Daniel Munoz before the Palace right back stood up a cross for Eberechi Eze, which the attacker nodded just wide. Where were Brighton’s defenders amongst this mess? A good question that their manager would have been asking at the break.
He responded by throwing caution to the wind by hooking Lamptey for attacker Julio Enciso and started on the front foot. Lacroix flung out a foot to divert Mitoma’s goal-bound effort wide before Henderson acrobatically denied Dunk.
An even better save followed moments later as Henderson flung himself to his left to tip Enciso’s around the post.
Palace spent most of their half camped on the edge of their penalty area, their opportunities limited to what they could conjure on the break.
In one such moment they looked to have put the game out of sight when Sarr muscled Estupinan out of the way before laying the ball on a plate for Munoz.
Palace boss Glasner was already haring down the touchline in celebration when he spotted the linesman’s flag had gone up, Sarr adjudge to have fouled Estupinan.
The Austrian responded with a look of disbelief that wouldn’t look out of character for a pantomime dame. But with eight minutes to play that expression turned to a beaming smile as Sarr showed more determination than Dunk to stride clear of the Brighton defender before finishing coolly past Verbruggen.
There was a minor blot on Palace’s copy late on when Lacroix’s clearance from a corner hit Marc Guehi and ended up in their own net. Substitute Eddie Nketiah had a chance to make it four late on but his chip landed wide of Verbruggen’s goal.
But not even those late blips could wipe the look of delight from Glasner’s face.
