The Premier League always manages to put the best fixtures in great parts of the season. With Brighton 3 points behind their closest rivals at kickoff and both team desperately trying to move away from the bottom three, this really was a game neither Crystal Palace or Brighton could afford to lose.
The first minute showed how fierce rivalries can make players with Anthony Knockaert being booked with 15 seconds. The Brighton winger slid into a 50/50 challenge with Milivojevic. The challenge initially looked like a simple coming together with the Palace midfielder coming off worse. However, replays showed that Knockaert deserved the booking and was, perhaps, lucky to get away with that. As the pair came together, Knockaert can be seen raising his leg off the ground and moving it towards Milivojevic’s midriff.
The game started in a rather cagey fashion, both teams nervous but pumped for the occasion. In the first 10 minutes brought another incident involving Milibojevic as Bissouma stood on the heel of the Serbian. Pawson saw the incident for what it was, an accident, and gave only the free kick. Brighton’s plan became clearly from the off. They were sitting deep in a 4-5-1 formation. The lack of out balls allowed Palace a lot of possession but the Seagulls contained their defensive third. Bissouma was then lucky to escape a booking after bringing Zaha down on the half way. The Ivorian international would have been away down the left but Pawson issued Bissouma with a final warning.
The game slowed slightly after the open exchanges. What had started as cagey began to become nervy. Brighton’s plan was working but the downfalls of playing deep came to be when Murray won the ball back deep into Palace’s half. With no support Palace were able to snuff out any glimmer of a counter attack. Palace were pushing hard to try get the opener, especially as they have collected a measly 4 points from 13 games when going behind. Brighton’s lines were not easy to get through and as they cleared, Tomkins misread the flight of the ball allowing it to bounce behind him. Murray latched onto the loose ball to hit it first time on the half volley. 1-0 to the visitors with 20 minutes gone.
Palace searched for an equaliser but with no avail. Dunk shone for Brighton blocking shots from everywhere. He commanded his defensive third restricting Palace to a frustrating first half. Whilst Palace had most of the ball, Brighton had made better use of it and a 1-0 lead halftime lead was well deserved.
Palace came out quick in the second half. They had drive and looked a threat. Townsend picked the ball up on the edge of the oppositions box and after a couple of good turns found the leg of Propper to gain his team a penalty. Milivojevic finished clinically, sending Ryan the wrong way.
Michy Batshuayi was a slight misfire today. He never settled into the game and often found himself in odd positions and losing the ball. His best chance to influence the game came in the 55th minute when he took the ball away from Duffy. The Belgian’s second touch ran away from him and, as he did several times the match, he misplaced his pass out wide to Zaha.
The game began to loose pace and seemed to be heading for joint honours. With both sides moving the ball well to get into dangerous areas, both were lacking the composure to create anything lethal. However, almost from nowhere, Anthony Knockaert, who perhaps should have been sent off within 20 seconds, had other ideas. A wonderful ball from Stephens found the French winger in acres of space. Running at Van Aanholt, who did not get close enough at all, he cut inside from the right putting the ball onto his left foot. A wonderful strike straight into the top corner gave Guaita absolutely no chance. Van Aanholt did not deal with the run of Knockaert inviting him to shoot.
Man of the Match
The Brighton born and bred defender, Lewis Dunk was sensational in a game that would mean more to him than most of his colleagues. His command of the defensive effort was crucial to Brighton’s away win. Wherever he was needed, he was there. He blocked four times with Palace in dangerous areas. Not only was he tireless during the game, after the final whistle, he ran the full length of the pitch to celebrate with his fans.
Sport Inside Out 