The last time a Crystal Palace manager lost to Brighton it cost him his job, so Roy Hodgson could have had no illusions about the importance of this showdown with their bitter rivals. But having looked like being able to celebrate the end of their winless run courtesy of Jordan Ayew’s goal, the substitute Danny Welbeck’s brilliant header eight minutes from time ensured that Hodgson’s future remains very much in the balance.
A committed performance against Roberto De Zerbi’s side should mean that the former England manager won’t suffer the same fate as his predecessor, Patrick Vieira – who was sacked in a 7am phone call with the chairman, Steve Parish, as he drove to the training ground – just yet. But games against Chelsea and Brentford after Christmas now look even more crucial for Hodgson, with the former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper lurking in the background.
“I suppose that’s football,” said Hodgson, whose side have failed to win in their last seven matches. “I don’t believe that the players could be doing much more than they are at the moment so if there is pressure, I don’t feel it.”
De Zerbi was hopeful that Kaoru Mitoma will not be out for too long after leaving the stadium on crutches. He was also pleased with the way his side responded to going behind after the goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s mistake gifted Palace the lead as this fixture finished in a 1-1 draw for the fifth time in a row at Selhurst Park – the joint-longest sequence in Premier League history.
“If we were going to win the game we can’t make these kind of mistakes,” said the manager, who singled out the Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba after he was substituted at half-time. “Some of our young players need time to progress – Baleba is not ready yet to play at this level but he has incredible potential. Our policy is to play with many young players so we have to accept and be happy with them.”
This was the first time Palace had been without Brighton’s usual tormentor, Wilfried Zaha, for one of these showdowns since his departure in the summer. Despite the raucous atmosphere created by the home supporters, they laboured against a defence that has now not kept a clean sheet for 22 league games – the longest run in their history.
Aside from the sparkling Michael Olise – who provided the assist for Ayew’s goal and was a handful for his marker, Igor Julio, throughout – this is a team badly lacking creativity as Eberechi Eze continues his return from injury. Hodgson admitted the England midfielder is still not fully fit and he was guilty of missing a great chance to make it 2-0 just before Welbeck’s equaliser.
Brighton could have gone ahead after 20 minutes when Simon Adingra found space on the right but his shot was saved by Dean Henderson. Instead, it was the hosts who made the breakthrough when Verbruggen gifted possession to Olise and his cross was headed home from point-blank range by a grateful Ayew. You could feel the instant relief flood around Selhurst Park.
Palace hadn’t scored a goal before half-time since 11 November against Everton and De Zerbi responded by opting to replace Baleba and Adingra with Facundo Buonanotte and Welbeck for the second period. Lewis Dunk should have levelled when he headed a free-kick from Pascal Gross wide and the visitors were incensed when the referee John Brooks – who caused controversy here last season when, as the VAR, he ruled out what should have been a legitimate Brighton goal for offside – decided that Ayew had made no contact with Jack Hinshelwood as he prepared to shoot inside the box.
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Henderson was at full stretch to save Billy Gilmour’s drive as Brighton continued to push forward, with Hinshelwood missing the target after being picked out by Gross at the back post.
Eze was far too casual with a late chance after a swift breakaway before shooting over from the resulting corner. Palace were made to pay the price when Welbeck brilliantly headed home a cross from Gross to give the travelling fans the last laugh – and leave Hodgson looking nervously over his shoulder.
