Ed Aarons was at the Amex tonight, and his report is merely one click away. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!
Patrick Vieira talks. “In the second half we knew that if we kept defending well we would have chances. We were disciplined. There is a lot of positivity to take for the second half of the season.”
Graham Potter speaks to Sky. “I thought we were fantastic, first half especially. We needed to score, of course, and didn’t, so that’s disappointing. But the character of the team, to recover from missing a penalty, to recover from going a goal down, to keep going, it’s really, really pleasing. I thought we were the better team and deserving of something from the game. We’ll get there. I can’t be anything but pleased with how we went about our work. If we maintain that performance, we’ll win more than we lose.” He also says that “VAR got everything right”, which is fairly refreshing.
The expected goals tally: 2.23 to 0.47. Jack Butland is one reason Brighton couldn’t convert their supremacy into three points, and here he is talking to Sky. “It was fairly obvious to see they had the main share of the ball. We defended well. To concede a scruffy own goal like that feels more like a loss, but in the grand scheme of things it is a good point. The last couple of years have been difficult for me, I haven’t played as much as I’d like and I’ve struggled confidence wise ... so to have a night like tonight is nice, and a reminder to me that I’m more than capable. Nights like this are helpful, little reminders.”
A fine way to start the weekend. That late equaliser means Brighton nudge ahead of Wolves on goals scored. Palace meanwhile go above the Saints into 11th.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Man Utd | 19 | 3 | 31 |
| 8 | Brighton | 20 | 0 | 28 |
| 9 | Wolverhampton | 19 | 0 | 28 |
| 10 | Leicester | 18 | -2 | 25 |
| 11 | Crystal Palace | 21 | -1 | 24 |
| 12 | Southampton | 20 | -6 | 24 |
FULL TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Crystal Palace
For the second time this season, Brighton deny Palace with a late equaliser. They’ll wonder how they didn’t win this one, though.
90 min +4: March dribbles in from the right. He loses control in the box. Lamptey considers making off with the ball but goes over with Hughes just behind him instead. He wants a penalty, but he’s never getting one.
90 min +3: March drives down the right and crosses viciously. Welbeck meets it at the near post but, falling backwards, can only guide his header over the bar. Brighton are after that winner!
90 min +2: Benteke half clears. March blasts a wild shot high and wide from distance.
90 min +1: Lamptey tears down the right and wins a corner of Mitchell. Mac Allister to take.
90 min: Guehi’s weak backpass nearly lets in Welbeck. Butland is off his line quickly to deal with the problem. There will be four added minutes.
89 min: March whips in from the right. Welbeck isn’t far from meeting it, six yards out. Goal kick. Plenty of time yet for another twist in the tail.
88 min: More late drama, then. Not another 90th-minute winner coming up, surely?
GOAL! Brighton 1-1 Palace (Andersen og 87)
Cucurella plays a cute first-time ball down the inside-left channel for Maupay, who drops a shoulder to beat the over-eager Ward and reaches the byline. He fires a low, hard cross into the six-yard box. Andersen sticks out a leg and bundles into his own net. So unlucky for Andersen, who has been magnificent in defence and had to act, but it’s the very least that Brighton deserve.
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85 min: Lamptey skedaddles down the right and crosses long for Cucurella, who can’t win a clean header at the far post. Brighton recycle possession. The ball nearly drops to Welbeck, 12 yards out. Palace bundle clear. It’s most likely going to be attack versus defence for the rest of the game.
83 min: A minor brouhaha as Burn bodychecks Hughes. The referee is quickly in the middle of it all, and everyone calms down quickly enough. VAR has a look, but it’s nothing more than a garden-variety foul.
82 min: March’s corner is punched clear with confidence by Butland.
81 min: Cucurella’s flick wins a corner out left. Before Brighton can take it, Benteke comes on for Olise.
80 min: Brighton push Palace back. Lamptey and March take turns to probe down the right. The visitors hold firm. It could be a long final few minutes for Palace if things continue like this.
78 min: Lamptey loops in from the right. It’s a peach of a cross, and Welbeck is preparing to head home from six yards, but Andersen gets a last-ditch flick away. A huge goal-saving intervention!
76 min: Brighton look collectively shellshocked, barely able to comprehend how they’re not a couple of goals ahead, never mind behind. Ditto their fans. All the noise is coming from the Palace end at the moment, as you’d imagine.
74 min: Moder slips Lamptey into space down the right. Lamptey crosses and earns a corner. The corner’s met by Webster again ... and again he clanks a poor header well wide left. Another decent chance goes by for Brighton.
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73 min: Brighton respond to the shock of falling behind by making a double swap: on come Welbeck and March for Gross and Veltman.
72 min: Mac Allister takes a shot from distance. It’s blocked, and balloons into the sky before dropping in Butland’s arms.
71 min: Palace nearly make it two, Schlupp reaching the byline on the left yet again and firing a low cross through the six-yard box, Gallagher this close to poking home at the near post. Nobody other than Cucurella at the far post, much to Brighton’s relief. How on earth have they ended up here?!
GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Palace (Gallagher 69)
Are you surprised? It’s been all Brighton, but now look! Hughes slips a ball down the inside-left channel for Milivojevic, who shuttles the ball infield for Schlupp. He reaches the byline, swivels, and cuts back for Gallagher, who smacks a shot into the bottom right, Schlupp having drawn Sanchez out of position!
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68 min: Brighton have taken 14 attempts to Palace’s two. Just four on target, though, which explains plenty.
66 min: Palace replace Eze and Edouard with Mateta and, in an attempt to shore things up a little, Milivojevic.
65 min: Cucurella switches play from left to right. Lamptey cuts back for Gross, who curls a deep cross back towards Trossard. The ball’s met sweetly on the volley, but blocked by Andersen. Another Brighton move that was very easy on the eye.
63 min: Gross swings in from the right. Webster wins the header, ten yards from goal, but can only slap the ball well wide left. Brighton continue to knock at the door.
62 min: A free kick for Brighton out on the right touchline. The hosts load the box. Cucuarella curls in low. It’s not the best delivery but Mitchell hacks out in hysterical fashion and it’s a corner.
60 min: Hughes goes sliding into Mac Allister at high speed, flipping the Argentinian midfielder into the air like a fried egg. One of those that looks much worse than it actually was. Mistimed, but not malicious, and just a yellow.
59 min: Lamptey launches his first raid down the right touchline. He gets nowhere this time, but the anticipation crackles whenever he takes up possession.
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58 min: Webster, playing out from the back, clumps a dismal pass straight at Olise. Webster will be pleased Burn managed to force the dangerous Palace winger out of play on the right. For a second, Brighton were in a bit of bother there.
56 min: Lallana’s race is indeed run. Lamptey comes on in his place. “Moder was clearly shoved when through on goal and not only did it not go to VAR, it didn’t even get a mention from the commentators,” writes Gary Naylor. “That’s why players go down ‘easily’.”
55 min: Lallana is down, holding his left leg. Not sure he’ll be able to continue. Either way, Brighton are preparing to bring on the ever-exciting Lamptey. The crowd erupt with glee as he starts his warm-up.
53 min: Eze dribbles in from the left and nearly dazzles his way into the box. One trick too many and he loses control. But he shows again 30 seconds later, Palace coming back at Brighton, Eze blazing over from the best part of 30 yards. Ambitious. This is a really entertaining game.
52 min: Maupay romps towards the Palace box before slipping wide left for Trossard, who cuts inside and shoots for the bottom right. The effort is blocked.
50 min: Maupay backheels infield from the left. Mac Allister dinks an instant pass down the channel for Moder, who is clear in the box! He attempts to lift over Butland. The keeper sticks up a strong arm, a wonderful save, and nothing comes from the resulting corner. That was an exquisite passing move down the left by Brighton, and would have been such a pretty goal.
48 min: ... and now Palace nearly take the lead, Gallagher crossing low from the right, Edouard sliding in and poking towards the bottom right from close range. Sanchez blocks brilliantly. How is this game still goalless?
47 min: Trossard shanks a shot wide right from the edge of the box. Gross recycles possession on the right flank. He reaches the byline and cuts back for Moder, who sidefoots across Butland and onto the bar and away. So close to the opener ... again!
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Brighton get the second half underway. No changes have been made at the break. Meanwhile our old friend Peter Oh is cooking with gas tonight, because here comes another zinger. “What do ruthless corporations and VAR have in common?” he asks. “Both deny reasonable arguments in favour of Maupay.” Please be upstanding, everyone. Mr Oh will be in residency all summer at the Dome.
Half-time entertainment.
HALF TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 0-0 Crystal Palace
Brighton have been the better side by far. They should be leading, but they’re not. It’s a story as old as time.
45 min +2: “Perhaps a business teacher could use Brighton’s choice of penalty taker in a lesson on Gross profit versus net profit.” Peter Oh, ladies and gentlemen. He’s here all week. Try the rock.
45 min +1: The first of three added minutes goes by without incident.
45 min: Mitchell, Schlupp, Hughes and Olise all have opportunities to shoot as Palace shuttle the ball left to right across the face of the Brighton box. They over-elaborate and the chance to warm Sanchez’s hands is gone.
44 min: Eke goes into the book for dragging back Maupay.
43 min: ... and to think we usually have to wait until the 90th minute for drama when these two meet.
NO GOAL! Brighton 0-0 Palace
41 min: Yep, it’s chalked off. Butland had the ball in both hands as he ran into Maupay, whereupon he lost control. It’s a pretty soft foul, and Butland can consider himself fortunate, his handling barely passing muster.
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40 min: VAR takes a look ... and sends the referee over to the screen again. This is probably going to be disallowed.
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GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Palace (Maupay 39)
Gross swings the corner in from the right. Burn dives low and sends a header towards the top left. Butland claims with both hands, but clanks into Maupay’s raised thigh and loses control. The ball drops to Maupay, who bundles home from a couple of yards!
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Brighton miss the penalty
38 min: Gross scuffs a dismal effort straight at Butland, who kicks out for a corner. From which ...
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37 min: Before Gross can take the spot kick, a flare lands in Butland’s six-yard box. The pressure cranks up.
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Penalty for Brighton
36 min: Hughes had his arm around Veltman’s neck, and dragged him down. It wasn’t the strongest yank, but the referee goes over to the monitor, and eventually performs the TV mime and points to the spot!
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34 min: Lallana wins a corner down the left. A game of pinball breaks out in the crowded Palace box. The ball eventually drops towards Moder, who skies a shot from 12 yards. Goal kick ... except VAR is having a wee look at the footage. What’s happened here, then?
33 min: More Brighton passing, to little effect.
31 min: Brighton string another bunch of passes together. All very pretty but ineffectual, as the ball eventually ends up back at the feet of Sanchez.
29 min: Olise is blocked off by Mac Allister as he skitters down the inside-right channel. He wants a free kick, just to the right of the D, but he’s not getting one. He stays down. Brighton refuse to knock the ball out and counter. Nothing comes of the move, but that’s got the Palace fans’ collective dander up.
28 min: Palace are really struggling to deal with Brighton’s intense press. They’ve made 39 passes in Brighton’s half; Brighton have made exactly 100 in theirs.
26 min: Mac Allister strips Gallagher with embarrassing ease. Gallagher wants a free kick, but he’s never getting it. Brighton stream forward and eventually earn a corner down the left. The set piece is hit long. Webster powers a header straight at Butland, but the whistle goes, the Brighton man having shoved Guehi in the back to get to the ball.
24 min: Brighton remain patient, though. More midfield possession.
22 min: Brighton hog the ball in midfield. Palace are having to work hard to keep them at arm’s length.
20 min: Moder reaches the byline on the right. He pulls back. Ward hacks clear as best he can. The ball drops to Maupay, who pulls a shot across goal and wide left. Brighton are on top.
19 min: Olise, the man of the match against Millwall last weekend, curls dangerously in from the left. Edouard beats Sanchez in a scrappy aerial challenge, but doesn’t bother going for the loose ball, as the flag’s gone up for offside.
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17 min: Mitchell crosses from the left to nobody in the Brighton box. Cucurella takes up possession and counters, spraying a delightful diagonal ball towards Moder on the Brighton right. Now it’s his turn to whistle a harmless cross through an unpopulated box. Neat break upfield, though.
16 min: Lallana nearly dances clear into the Palace box down the right channel, but overdoes the soft-shoe shuffle and leaves the ball behind. He’s looking lively in these early exchanges.
14 min: Mitchell takes an age over a throw deep in Brighton territory. He’s so ponderous that when he eventually takes it, and the ball’s knocked back to him, he’s caught offside. The Brighton fans, initially irritated, enjoyed that.
12 min: Edouard makes ground down the left and tries a low cutback. The ball is deflected by Veltman and nearly squeaks in at the near post. Sanchez reacts brightly to claim.
10 min: Brighton should be leading. Last man Ward’s dreadful header goes straight to Trossard, who tears clear on goal. Trossard looks for the bottom left, but Butland narrows the angle and parries successfully, getting his team-mate out of all sorts of bother.
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9 min: Palace take their sweet time over a throw, then a free kick in the midfield, taking the early sting out of the game.
7 min: Veltman flings a throw into the mixer from the right. MacAllister tries to flick on. Schlupp gets in the road but can only concede the first corner of the evening. The set piece is worked back to Lallana, who belts a speculative effort goalwards from 25 yards. Blocked. Palace haven’t settled yet.
5 min: Mitchell slips with the ball at his feet in his own area. MacAllister strips the prone Palace player of possession and cuts back for Trossard, who can’t get a decent shot away despite a nice shift of feet. Brighton have started the better.
4 min: Lallana and Mac Allister exchange crisp passes down the middle of the park. Lallana tries to slip Moder clear down the inside-right channel but Andersen is wise to his game and intercepts.
2 min: A slow and scrappy start on the south coast.
1 min: Some late breaking pre-match admin: Rob Jones has replaced Jarred Gillett as tonight’s referee.
Palace get the ball rolling ... but only after a knee is taken. The gesture is met with warm applause. There’s no room for racism.
Here come the teams! Brighton are in their blue and white stripes, while Palace are in second-choice yellow with a blue and red sash. The visitors arrive to a barrage of boos, then the hosts are met with rafter-bothering cheers. A proper atmosphere at the Amex, the sort you’d expect when two arch rivals are about to get down to serious business. We’ll be off in a minute!
Patrick Vieira talks to Sky. “We are never satisfied. You always want more. But to be honest, we are in a good place. We have a good number of points and are playing the way I want the team to play. Inside the box in both areas, we need to improve as a team. We are a team. Of course when Wilfred Zaha is there, you are strong. But when he is not there you have players who are capable of taking responsibility. The game is about the team. They have talent. Conor Gallagher is doing well, I don’t want to put pressure on him, but he is like a Frank Lampard.”
Graham Potter has a quick chat to Sky about those late, late goals that keep cropping up in this rivalry. “We keep going to the end, which is important. We want to try to play well and get the game won earlier, but it’s not as simple as that in this league. You have to fight to the end. It’s a nice quality to have.”
Victory for Brighton tonight would see Graham Potter’s side leapfrog Wolves into eighth spot. They’d then be just a couple of wins away from the Champions League places. Should Palace claim all three points tonight, they’ll edge ahead of Southampton and Leicester and make it into the top half of the table, where they’d be right on Brighton’s shoulder.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 21 | 40 | 53 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 21 | 29 | 43 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 20 | 34 | 42 |
| 4 | West Ham | 21 | 12 | 37 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 20 | 8 | 35 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | 3 | 33 |
| 7 | Man Utd | 19 | 3 | 31 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton | 19 | 0 | 28 |
| 9 | Brighton | 19 | 0 | 27 |
| 10 | Leicester | 18 | -2 | 25 |
| 11 | Southampton | 20 | -6 | 24 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 20 | -1 | 23 |
| 13 | Brentford | 20 | -6 | 23 |
| 14 | Aston Villa | 19 | -5 | 22 |
| 15 | Everton | 18 | -9 | 19 |
| 16 | Leeds | 19 | -16 | 19 |
| 17 | Watford | 18 | -14 | 13 |
| 18 | Burnley | 17 | -11 | 11 |
| 19 | Newcastle | 19 | -23 | 11 |
| 20 | Norwich | 20 | -36 | 10 |
Brighton make seven changes to the side selected for the 2-1 FA Cup win at West Brom. Robert Sanchez, Adam Webster, Marc Cucurella, Jakub Moder, Adam Lallana, Alexis Mac Allister and Leandro Trossard return. Kjell Scherpen, Steven Alzate, Solly March and Danny Welbeck drop to the bench, while Shane Duffy, Odeluga Offiah and Enock Mwepu miss out altogether.
Palace make one change to the XI named ahead of their 2-1 cup victory at Millwall. Odsonne Edouard comes in for Jean-Philippe Mateta. Eberechi Eze will make his first Premier League start of the 2021-22 campaign.
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The teams
Brighton & Hove Albion: Sanchez, Veltman, Webster, Burn, Cucurella, Moder, Gross, Lallana, Mac Allister, Maupay, Trossard.
Subs: Lamptey, Scherpen, Alzate, Welbeck, March, Caicedo, Roberts, Leonard, Ferguson.
Crystal Palace: Butland, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Gallagher, Hughes, Schlupp, Olise, Edouard, Eze.
Subs: Milivojevic, Guaita, Mateta, Clyne, Benteke, Kelly, Ferguson, Riedewald, Rak-Sakyi.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia).
Preamble
The latest edition of this geographically strange but historically passionate derby kicks off at 8pm. Make sure you stick around until 9.45pm, then, because each of the last three matches between Brighton and Crystal Palace have concluded with a perception-altering goal in the 90th minute: two equalisers for the Seagulls and a winner for the Eagles. More of the same tonight would be most entertaining. It’s the 109th A23 derby. It’s on!
