Thank you very much for joining me. Here is Ed Aarons’ hastily rewritten match report.
Maupay: “It’s been a tough game. Palace played well but in the end we scored and we happy with that.
“I just saw the ball coming and believe I could get it and I did.
“We didn’t have much to work with tonight but I got a chance I took it.”
There are no shortage of errors in that five seconds of football from Palace but what a finish from Maupay. Kudos to him for keeping his cool at such a critical moment.
Not sure what happened with Guehi on the goal. He ends up out of position and does not go back. Kouyate ends up behind him.
There were some yellow cards handed out after the final whistle. Robert Sanchez got one of them.
Palace were the better team over the 90 minutes but not by much. They just edged it but few could argue about a draw.
I’ll DM you.
@Will_Unwin
— J.Q Butter (@JQButter1) September 27, 2021
Pistachio? Pistachio-no!
I’d say more of a turquoise.
Also Will, who’s your nut dealer,
mines been letting me down recently?
Cheers 👍🏻
I was about to write about how Brighton only had themselves to blame for not creating any decent chances. It turns out Palace were the ones who need to have a long, hard look at themselves after Ayew’s miss and Guaita’s error for the equaliser.
Full-time: Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton
Fighting on the pitch and objects being thrown from the stands.
Guaita sends a terrible free-kick from the edge of his six-yard box to the halfway line to Moder who sends it straight back over the top for Maupay to latch onto and lob a shot over the goalkeeper.
Updated
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton (Maupay, 90+5)
Bedlam!
Updated
90+2 mins: Palace are, understandably, wasting time. They take a short corner and Benteke is left to hold it there, which he fails to do and Brighton get the ball up field. The attack ends with Moder heading the ball to Guaita.
90 mins: Brighton get a free-kick out on the left. Gross lines it up ... he curls it with his right foot onto Duffy’s head but the defender sends an effort which bounces up into Guaita’s arms.
Five minutes added on.
88 mins: Brighton are knocking it around nicely, maybe they should have tried this earlier. The balls makes it way up to Connolly who looks for a killer ball but Andersen stops it not once, but twice.
86 mins: Brighton have failed to trouble Guaita. He made one save from the Dunk header and that is pretty much it. It is such a shame for a team who have promised so much.
Schlupp is on for Ayew.
84 mins: Trossard and Zaha have another battle, once again won by the Palace man who takes the ball away before seeing his pass intercepted.
Gallagher is booked for a lunge on Cucurella.
82 mins: Trossard, the king of pushes, finally goes into the book after chasing Zaha down the left flank and eventually just barging him over. What a man.
80 mins: ‘Writer Roamer’ emails about the Brighton kit: “Blue? Isn’t it more pistachio than blue.”
I’d get a new nut dealer if I were you.
78 mins: Palace should be two goals ahead. Cucurella takes a poor touch and then flies into Gallagher, but not before the Palace midfielder nudges a pass to Benteke, allowing the Belgian to slip Ayew in on goal, only to see the Ghanaian send his shot wide.
Cucurella goes into the book.
Updated
76 mins: Connolly is on for Brighton, replacing Welbeck who has an issue of some sort.
Updated
74 mins: A long ball from Dunk is flicked out of play by a Palace head. Almost everyone in light blue piles into the area but nothing comes of the corner.
71 mins: Zaha dribbles down the left but cannot get the better of Veltman who tackles the winger. The ball goes loose and Edouard collects but he can only run it out for a free-kick.
Edouard and Milivojevic are off with Benteke and Kouyate replacing them.
69 mins: Benteke is stripped of action.
67 mins: Top quality shithousery from McArthur - who gets the ball after Brighton kicked it out so Alzate could be treated - the Palace midfielder takes a touch and whacks it out for a goal-kick to Brighton.
Moder almost makes an instant impact as he gets down the right and sends in a dangerous cross which Guehi clears before Welbeck gets a chance to score.
65 mins: Moder is on for Alzate who turned his ankle in a challenge with Ayew.
63 mins: The home crowd are in good spirits, helped by their team looking a tad more exciting than in recent years. Zaha looks enthused by the team he is playing in too, which can only be a good thing.
Veltman sends a cross into the corridor of uncertainty but no one from Brighton can attack it.
Bad news for Brighton as sub Alzate is down the turf holding his left ankle. He’s not even been on the pitch 20 minutes.
61 mins: Zaha drives into the box but is met by Duffy who tackles the winger at the expense of a corner, which comes to nothing.
59 mins: Trossard does some good work, he lays it off to Gross who should play it back to the Belgian down the flank but he instead hits a hopeful cross into the box which Guaita claims.
57 mins: Gross sends a free-kick into the box but Palace easily clear. They get the ball down the other end quickly and put plenty of pressure on Sanchez as he looks to clear. It is high energy stuff from the hosts.
55 mins: Palace are pressing high and looking very energetic. They really are a million miles away from what they looked like under Hodgson.
Updated
53 mins: Zaha is slipped through on goal but his powerful shot is saved by Sanchez. It does not matter anyway, as the flag is belatedly put up.
51 mins: Cucurella swings in a free-kick from the left which lands on Dunk’s head, he does well to get power on it and Guaita is forced to tip the ball over.
Moments later Cucurella sends in a good low cross but no one in a light blue shirt can get on the end of it. The ball is cleared as far as Lallana on the edge of the box who shot is deflected behind.
49 mins: Palace have looked confident since coming back out a goal ahead. Can they make it count?
JR emails: “I don’t know what your opinion of Tim Howard is but would it change at all if you knew that he didn’t think Trossard committed a foul on that penalty call?
“Of course it was a “stonewaller”. And how Trossard didn’t get booked for wagging his finger in Marriner’s face and roaring at him I’m not certain.”
Maybe I know nothing. This is upsetting. FOOTBALL MEN KNOW.
47 mins: Alzate is on for Burn, as Potter changes his plan. The sub is becoming a third man in midfield, it would seem.
Second half
Here we go again!
Sorry everyone, the great man has spoken.
Chris Sutton thinks it was soft, though, so who's to say really?
— James Appleton (@LovableJim) September 27, 2021
“If a tossed cup of hot coffee is a marker for the rivalry between these two clubs, imagine the heart-pounding drama that would ensue of they were to meet in the Caffeine Cup!” emails Peter Oh.
Call a cardiologist.
What was the best case scenario for Trossard? As it was just a silly push, not even close to ‘easing him off the ball’. I am so confused.
“I’m fascinated by the protests of players who’ve been whistled for an obvious foul, even after VAR has checked,” says Alex Whitney. “I don’t think that could’ve been a clearer penalty unless he’d taken a maul to Gallagher. Is it pride? Childishness? Flat out lying?”
I think on this occasion it is pure embarrassment of how much he messed up. Trying to pin the blame elsewhere.
Half-time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Brighton
It’s not been a classic but Brighton deserve to be behind for Trossard’s idiocy. How will I ever get over that from the Belgian? What was he thinking?! Was he thinking?
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 Brighton (Zaha, pen, 45+2)
Zaha sends Sanchez the wrong way. Incredible levels of stupidity from Trossard, which I will never get over.
Updated
45 mins: PENALTY TO PALACE! Gallagher drives into the box and Trossard stupidly barges his over.
Updated
44 mins: A noble a commitment. I will send you a can to aid your viewing pleasure.
@Will_Unwin Re- Brighton not going to win the PL even if we go top tonight: if we DID win it I'll do a Gary Lineker and watch MOTD in my pants. There. That's a promise.
— Richard Cutler (@therichcutler) September 27, 2021
42 mins: Edouard is looking very isolated down the middle. No wonder Benteke had not luck playing up top for Palace.
Palace do create a dangerous opening though Zaha down the left but his pull back goes behind his teammates and Burn sweeps up for Brighton.
40 mins: What Ed said.
Milivojevic really struggling for Palace tonight. Keeps giving it away
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) September 27, 2021
38 mins: Cucurella and Trossard combine to get the Spaniard into a good position on the left but he sees his cross turned behind for a corner. The set-piece is headed clear to Lallana on the edge of the box, he takes a touch and whacks a rising half-volley over.
36 mins: Zaha gets his first sight of goal, as he receives the ball on the left-hand side of the area, before getting it out of his feet and taking aim for the near post but Sanchez gets down well.
34 mins: Brighton are getting into this game now. Palace need to regroup to ensure the visitors do not get on top.
32 mins: Sanchez goes long - very long - as he whacks a pass down the middle, which goes over the Palace defence, allowing Welbeck a run at goal - he gets into the area and jabs a shot towards the net but Guaita stays big to save.
I am going to go out on a limb here and say even if Brighton do end up at the top of the league tonight, they will not win it this season.
Updated
30 mins: Brighton’s best attack of the game ends with Trossard sending a shot into the sidenetting from a Gross cross.
28 mins: Lallana drags McArthur to the ground, picking up a booking for his indiscretion. I can’t see the starting midfield pairing for Brighton finishing the game.
Answers on a postcard.
@Will_Unwin
— J.Q Butter (@JQButter1) September 27, 2021
Will, I saw many a game at Selhurst park,as a Charlton fan,the CP/Brighton rivalry seems a strange one.
Charlton definitely did/do not like Palace. Was it just the ignominy of them giving them a home to play at?
Or maybe it was just their burgers?
Any ideas anyone?
26 mins: Milivojevic takes the subsequent free-kick; he thinks he spots a gap to shoot at but makes a dreadful connection, sending the ball trickling wide.
24 mins: Cucurella takes a poor touch and Ayew nips in, only to be shoved over by the Spaniard. To make matters worse for the Palace man Burn then slides into him.
Updated
22 mins: Ayew gets to the byline but he cannot keep the ball in play, which ends a potentially bright attack.
20 mins: Edouard gets the first respectable chance of the match, as Palace play some quick passes to get the ball to the Frenchman on the edge of the box, he takes a touch and spins to shoot but it is straight at Sanchez.
18 mins: Palace are targeting their attacks down their left as they obviously do not think too much of Veltman. Not that they have had much success so far.
16 mins: Brighton are slowing things down by taking a few touches and knocking it around the back, which Palace are happy to let them do.
14 mins: Mitchell does well to take down a raking pass, he lays it into Zaha who can’t beat his man and Brighton whack it clear. Palace are definitely looking the more dangerous at the moment, with Brighton reduced to long balls to relieve pressure.
Updated
12 mins: Edouard gets the ball on the edge of the box, does well to hold it up but can’t find the marauding Gallagher, as Brighton successfully fight to win it back.
10 mins: The Guardian’s very own Karen Carney is on co-comms, which is excellent to hear. She knows the game inside and out. Will she come to the Christmas party? That’s the big question.
Updated
8 mins: Milivojevic gets another chance from a corner, this time on the right, but he overhits it and Brighton clear. The ball ends up back in the box at Gallagher’s feet, he cuts inside onto his right foot and aims for the far corner with his shot but Dunk’s head is in the way.
6 mins: It has been very even thus far, without either goalkeeper having much to do.
4 mins: Gallagher wins a corner off Duffy. Milivojevic sends the set-piece into the box but Duffy is there waiting to head clear.
Welbeck bustles down the left wing and make his way into the box but Maupay fails to find him with the return pass in a one-two. Palace get a free-kick for a handball in their own area. Maupay ends up on the deck after Andersen ensures Palace are not delayed in taking it.
2 mins: Andersen warms up the crowd with a neat turn on the touchline to send Maupay the wrong way.
Kick-off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
Stuart Burrows, who is a professor in the English at Brown, sends this:
“I’m off to teach a seminar on Hitchcock to some American undergraduates this afternoon,” says Stuart. “Finding out that Brighton have gone top of the table after beating Palace would be a true moment of horror for me.”
He will be upset by use of language in the next couple of hours.
What is also quite nice, is that Vieira seems to like Potter, too.
“What is really positive is that Graham took over a club with a manager who was successful but playing in a different way,” Vieira said. “He managed to keep that success with his philosophy in place and how he wants to play the game. I think this is a good example for me of what I want to do in this football club.
“I arrived, Roy has been really successful in the last couple of years and it’s not about me changing everything because they’ve been doing some really good stuff in this football club. It’s about me coming with different ideas but keeping the foundation that Roy has been building.”
Graham Potter is a huge Patrick Vieira fan, which is nice.
“They are putting themselves there to be shot at or to fail, because just because you’ve been a top player doesn’t mean you’ll be a top coach,” said Potter. “But the fact that they are on that path is commendable and admirable. They will need the right support and opportunities. But for the game I think it’s important to have those guys involved as long as we can. It shows their intelligence, it shows their humility. Both of those guys are some of the best players to play in the modern era.
“You have good days and bad days. You have failures. It’s how you deal with them. Keep going. Keep improving. But Patrick has shown those characteristics all his career. He can apply them to management, I’m sure. He’s an intelligent guy. I’ve no doubt he’s going to be a fantastic coach.”
Barry did my preamble for me.
A potentially big night ahead.
0 - @OfficialBHAFC have never spent a night at the top of the English top-flight - something that each of the other 19 current @PremierLeague clubs have done. Opportunity.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 27, 2021
Should they beat C.Palace tonight, they'll end the night in 1st place. We look at the data on @OptaAnalyst.
So Edouard does start for Palace, which is a positive move as Benteke really does not give the impression he can regain the form and confidence that made him one of the Premier League’s best strikers when at Villa.
Starting lineups
Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Guehi, Andersen, Mitchell, Milivojevic, McArthur, Gallagher, Ayew, Edouard, Zaha
Subs: Butland, Kouyate, Kelly, Clyne, Schlupp, Hughes, Olise, Mateta, Benteke
Brighton: Sanchez, Dunk, Burn, Duffy, Veltman, Cucurella, Lallana, Gross, Trossard, Welbeck, Maupay
Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Connolly, Mac Allister, Moder, Alzate, March, Roberts, Richards
Good evening
You know when you have to read a long history about why a match is a ‘derby’ that is probably isn’t the fiercest of rivalries in football. The needle goes a long way back between these two and more recently it is heavily focused on a shit in the changing room.
Even bigger than the 90 minutes for Brighton is the fact they could go top of the league with a win. Graham Potter has turned them into an exciting team since taking over and his summer signings have settled quickly to make up for their slight flaws last season. It would be a great story, even six games in, to show what can be done with a measured approach to recruitment and tactics.
This is a new era for the A-road War, as Patrick Vieira takes charge of his first A23 derby. Things have not been perfect thus far for Palace, claiming just one win since the Frenchman’s summer arrival. It might be time to finally give Odsonne Edouard a start as Christian Benteke still looks a shadow of his former self in front of goal and Palace really need to score some goals soon.
Here’s to a cracker!
Kick-off: 8pm
