Brighton & Hove Albion 4-1 Crystal Palace: Seagulls beat rivals to put pressure on Roy Hodgson
Lewis Dunk scored after just two minutes 22 seconds, the fastest goal for Brighton in the Premier League this seasonBrighton scored three first-half goals as they beat rivals Crystal Palace comfortably in the Premier League to heap pressure on Eagles boss Roy Hodgson.
Palace started poorly and went behind in the opening five minutes for the second successive game when Lewis Dunk rose highest to head in a corner from Pascal Gross.
Roberto de Zerbi’s side dominated the ball throughout the first half and they doubled their lead in the 33rd minute when Jack Hinshelwood headed in Tariq Lamptey’s cross at the back post.
It got worse for the visitors a minute later when deadline-day signing Adam Wharton was caught in possession, and Gross teed up Facundo Buonanotte to score easily from close range.
Palace scored a consolation when Jean-Philippe Mateta headed in Joachim Andersen’s cross with 20 minutes to go before Joao Pedro restored the three-goal lead with an excellently worked goal late on.
Follow Brighton v Crystal Palace and the rest of Saturday’s Premier League actionHow did you rate Brighton’s performance? Have your say hereWhat did you make of Crystal Palace’s display? Send us your views hereHodgson’s side failed to create many openings of note and Palace’s supporters once again expressed their frustration with the club ownership and management with banners calling for change.
Brighton, who made five changes from the side who lost 4-0 to Luton in midweek, looked rejuvenated.
The intensity they showed on the pitch was matched by their manager, who picked up his third booking of the season while appealing against a decision, and so will have to watch their next game from the stands.
Defeat for Hodgson puts Palace’s form back under the microscope. While they defeated Sheffield United last Tuesday, they have won just four of their past 17 league matches.
The Palace boss will point to the fact that he did not have his best players, with Eberechi Eze not fit enough to be in the squad and Michael Olise limping off just 11 minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute.
Brighton cruise to victoryJoao Pedro has scored eight Premier League goals this seasonComing into this game, the Seagulls had only won three of their past 16 league matches.
However, they are in a much better place than their rivals – in touch with the Premier League’s European qualification spots, still in the FA Cup, and in the Europa League last 16.
Their football is a joy to watch, with De Zerbi is able to get the best out of the players in his squad.
They have an excellent blend of experience and youth, with 18-year-old Hinshelwood and 19-year-old Buonanotte both scoring.
Brighton have a number of key players out injured but if they can get some of them back towards the end of the season, it could be an exciting time for the club.
Pressure continues to build on HodgsonCrystal Palace have conceded 14 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Sheffield United (17) have conceded more in the Premier League this seasonAs far as Palace supporters are concerned, the manner of this heavy defeat against their biggest rivals puts Hodgson back under pressure.
The Eagles have won two of their past four Premier League games, but the two defeats in that sequence have been heavy – with a 5-0 loss at Arsenal before Brighton’s convincing win.
Supporters had already made their feelings known about the club’s leadership with a banner during the defeat at Arsenal and there was another display of discontent at Amex Stadium.
Without Eze, who scored twice against Sheffield United on Tuesday, and with Olise only able to feature briefly, Palace were toothless in attack.
Fan feeling is far from positive, and given their poor results over the past four months, some may ask if the club will feel it’s time to make a change.
Player of the match
GilmourBilly Gilmour
with an average of 7.90
Brighton & Hove AlbionSquad number11Player nameGilmour
Squad number5Player nameDunk
Squad number30Player nameEstupiƱƔn
Squad number41Player nameHinshelwood
Squad number13Player nameGroĆ
Squad number28Player nameFerguson
Squad number9Player nameJoĆ£o Pedro
Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
Squad number2Player nameLamptey
Squad number40Player nameBuonanotte
Squad number29Player namevan Hecke
Squad number14Player nameLallana
Squad number20Player nameBaleba
Squad number3Player nameIgor Julio
Squad number31Player nameAnsu Fati
Squad number1Player nameVerbruggen
Crystal PalaceSquad number20Player nameA Wharton
Squad number11Player nameMatheus FranƧa
Squad number14Player nameMateta
Squad number7Player nameOlise
Squad number12Player nameMuƱoz
Squad number22Player nameĆdouard
Squad number16Player nameAndersen
Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
Squad number8Player nameLerma
Squad number3Player nameMitchell
Squad number6Player nameGuƩhi
Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
Squad number30Player nameHenderson
Squad number26Player nameRichards
Squad number19Player nameHughes
Squad number29Player nameAhamada
Line-upsBrightonFormation 3-4-2-1
1Verbruggen29van Hecke5Dunk3dos Santos de PauloSubstituted forAnsu Fatiat 88’minutes41Hinshelwood13GroĆ11Gilmour2LampteySubstituted forEstupiƱƔnat 80’minutes40BuonanotteSubstituted forBalebaat 80’minutes9JoĆ£o PedroSubstituted forLallanaat 88’minutes28FergusonSubstituted forWelbeckat 69’minutesBooked at 90minsSubstitutes4Webster14Lallana15Moder18Welbeck20Baleba23Steele30EstupiƱƔn31Ansu Fati47Baker-BoaiteyCrystal PalaceFormation 4-3-3
30Henderson12MuƱozBooked at 62mins16Andersen6GuĆ©hiBooked at 16minsSubstituted forA Whartonat 28’minutes3Mitchell8Lerma26Richards19HughesSubstituted forAhamadaat 80’minutes9J Ayew14MatetaSubstituted forĆdouardat 80’minutes15SchluppSubstituted forOliseat 45’minutesSubstituted forFranƧa de Oliveiraat 56’minutesBooked at 59minsSubstitutes1Johnstone5Tomkins7Olise11FranƧa de Oliveira20A Wharton22Ćdouard29Ahamada44Riedewald52OzohReferee:Simon Hooper
Attendance:31,345
Match StatsLive TextMatch ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 4, Crystal Palace 1.
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 4, Crystal Palace 1.
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Joachim Andersen.
Attempt blocked. Pascal GroĆ (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pervis EstupiƱƔn with a cross.
Attempt saved. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jefferson Lerma.
Foul by Adam Lallana (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Danny Welbeck (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Danny Welbeck (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Pervis EstupiƱƔn is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Matheus FranƧa (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jefferson Lerma.
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Adam Lallana replaces JoĆ£o Pedro.
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Ansu Fati replaces Igor Julio.
Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 4, Crystal Palace 1. JoĆ£o Pedro (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Danny Welbeck with a through ball.
Attempt saved. Matheus FranƧa (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Odsonne Ćdouard.
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Odsonne Ćdouard replaces Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Naouirou Ahamada replaces Will Hughes.
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Pervis EstupiƱƔn replaces Tariq Lamptey.
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Carlos Baleba replaces Facundo Buonanotte.
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